What do you do for Living?

[jamespowers]

There has got to be a deeper part of hell for people who steal from charities for any reason, but especially to fund a high-end lifestyle. They will reside, hopefully, next to the people who sell watered-downed cancer drugs to make money.

Another amazing example is Bernie Madoff. His documentation was both light and fraudulent in an industry which has heavy documentation requirements and multiple regulators looking at it all the time. And he stole (estimated) - to mimic you: Nine. Billion. Dollars.

How Madoff got away with it was reputation (he had been a big name at, I think the NASDAQ) and the regulators just couldn't accept that he was corrupt (even though Barron's, a well-respected industry periodical, published a piece averring that he was running a Ponzi scheme years before he was caught) and he used a small, no-name accounting firm (that he basically controlled).

That said, several firms had protected their clients from Madoff because Madoff's firm failed those firms' due diligence process - an example of documentation working. It's a balance and, clearly, your town's Community Chest President and Madoff found the low / no document interstices (those people always will).

Edit add: I kid you not, after posting the above, I just saw this headline:

Federal regulators accused four cancer charities Tuesday of spending more than $187 million in donations not to help patients, but on cars, luxury cruises and trips, jet ski outings, sport and concert tickets, dating site memberships and college tuition for family and friends.

Charities are ntorious for being corrupt fromt he very beginning. Out here in the 1840s we had people who "came to do go and did very well." Crooked charities are nothing new and they will always be with us.
I give directly and cut out the crooked middleman----including the government. :doh:

 

[A-1]

This is a very interesting topic.

And I just want to add something that I’ve been thinking about very much recently:

I know there is a big cultural gap between the US and Germany concerning charities (amongst other things of course). Here a lot of tasks and money funding for social and health issues is done by the state, whereas in the US there are charities of people taking care of that in the US. However, even here the government withdraws more and more from its duties. And I think it’s sad.

I know that a lot of people in the US think it’s socialism or something and that this is bad. Here the majority of the people thinks it’s important for the state to take care of the basic needs for all people. I know that independence is a big word in the US for many people and that it has to do a lot with the cultural history of the country that people want to care for themselves and all. And still I think it’s a very good thing for the people to have the state to care for a lot of basic issues such as health for example.

Here our governments try to go the neo-liberal way more and more and retreat from their duties, by saying it works great in the US. But from what I see, hear and read, our social and health care system still works much better for the greater part of the population. And I always thought it was very sad to see a lot of people in the US attacking the health-care act as ‘socialism’ when it was only good for them. I don’t even know why the word 'social' has such a negative connotation in the US. Maybe you can help me out here.
I’d consider myself a social person and I love to live my life like that. There is no such thing as equality, especially no equal chances from birth on. The funny thing is that the whole charity system in the US is based on a social thought and people helping each other out.

Another really funny thing is that capitalists always claim that socialism is bad for the economy. Well, I can only say that it seemed very crucial to help out the banking sector in the financial crisis. It’s just very contradictory, being unsocial for the people and very social for the banks and huge companies (that by the way were guilty of causing this crisis, NOT the people).

Coming back to the topic, I think corruption exists virtually anywhere. And documentation may be a step into the right direction. But when corruption is done by the ones in charge of the documentation and its checking, it’s simply worthless. Yet, a lot of systems are constructed like that.

I always shake my head when I see how many dishonest people exist, and I wonder if it’s the system causing people to act like that as well. I always shake my head to the greed of some people and what they’re willing to do for money and to have it in abundance. In my opinion this is a systemic (can you say that?) problem. It’s a little bit like the doping problem in bicycle racing. They always find individual scape goats to blame to keep the problem of the system out of sight. However, in my opinion the system is responsible for the doping problem. When it’s always higher, faster and better, whatever, humans tend to find their limits. But they don’t want to accept that. So they find other ways.

As long as people who are tricking whole countries to make a billion dollars, get away with that (not only that, they’re praised as heroes and receive contributions), there will be people trying to go that way.

I’m really sorry for the political post!!! But this was just something that has been itching my mind... Maybe some US citizens can help me out on some points. I’m very interested in some cultural insights.

Much obliged.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Trouble is...exploring these questions more in depth always becomes very political and that has been banned on this forum for good reason. Unfortunately many civilized political discussions eventually led to confrontation and hostility, finally reaching the point where enough was enough. In fact, even very few to 'no' totally political forums can ever seem to keep things anywhere near polite, so it really can't be expected to be any different if political threads are allowed here. That's why many other forums have decided rather than continually policing,cleaning up,and locking threads, it just isn't worth such an effort in order to keep a more pleasant forum decorum.
HD

 

[A-1]

That’s sad. I’m really interested in politics and culture and their connection. It’s sad that it’s mostly about fashion and stuff, even if that’s really interesting.

My intention wasn’t to start off a big fight here. I’m sorry if anyone’s offended by my statements. It was not meant to be like that by me at all!!!

 

[Big J]

I used to volunteer for a charity, but soon discovered it was just a gravy-train more concerned with providing lease cars and executive lunches to it's managers than actually 'helping' anyone. And all of those managers never missed a chance to bask in any limelight for doing 'such good work'. Even the big name charities have 'expenses' and 'running costs' that would see them close doors in a week if the donations stopped tomorrow.

Totally disillusioned. If I want to help someone, I just do it directly now.

 

[Fading Fast]

Charities are ntorious for being corrupt fromt he very beginning. Out here in the 1840s we had people who "came to do go and did very well." Crooked charities are nothing new and they will always be with us.
I give directly and cut out the crooked middleman----including the government. :doh:

I have no doubt that many charities do many good things, but I agree that corruption in charity isn't rare either.

I became completely dispirited with organized charity (giving my money to them and soliciting money from others for them) after I was asked by my company to lead our United Way effort the same year (late '90s, I think) that the United Way corruption scandal hit. I was so embarrassed that I had asked others to give time and money to that organization that I swore I would never ask anyone to give their time or money to an organized charity again (it's a personal choice and I'm not going to push or prod anyone) and I now keep my charity to organizations or situations where I am highly confident that my money and efforts aren't being stolen.

My Mom, who hardly has much to give, was so disgusted by a series of corruption scandals that she, like you, literally, gives what little she can directly to people she believes she can help.

To A-1, I believe you can find books and (my guess) forums that want to discuss the political questions you raised. I don't know those forums because I am completely exhausted from political discussion because, as Hoosier Daddy points out, they almost always get ugly eventually - after arguing and arguing, what it comes down to is people have different core philosophical premises that aren't going to change (IMHO), so you eventually get to disagreement usually attached to fervent passions. But again, if you want to engage, I have to believe there are forums out there for political discussion.

 

[sheeplady]

I think the best way to determine if a charity does good is to talk to some of the recipients of said charity and see what they think.

I'm a breast cancer survivor, a year and a half out of treatment. Our first daughter was 3 weeks old when I was diagnosed with a late-stage aggressive, rare form of breast cancer called triple negative. We depended on family and friends, mostly, but when those people couldn't help us, charities- total strangers- did.

This is the list of places that helped our family:
Susan G. Komen Foundation- provides me with two custom lymphadema sleeves through a grant every year. I will need these for the rest of my life. My insurance does not cover these, they cost $2,000 apiece, quite frankly my family could not afford $4,000 for medical equipment per year, when we already have high medical costs due to my being a cancer survivor.

The liveSTRONG at the YMCA program- free membership to the Y for a limited time, tailored exercise program for cancer survivors with a focus on rebuilding strength and endurance after cancer treatment. Also focuses on supporting cancer survivors through mentoring. Also there is a free "retreat" at the NYS Frost Valley YMCA for cancer patients, survivors, and their families from the tri-state area.

Laurie's Hope at the YMCA (local) - this organization provided me with FREE childcare for my daughter during my radiation treatment and doctor's appointments. Without them I wouldn't have been able to find childcare for those time periods and I would not have gotten my treatment.

Herishberger fund at the YMCA(Local)- Provided a month's worth of meals, made by a professional chef in our home, tailored to my nutritional and functional needs while I went through radiation following 5 months of chemo. I was too tired to cook, a stay at home mother responsible for an infant, and my husband was commuting over 4 hours a day at that point. This was a life saver.

Positively Pink Packages (local)- provides a package to breast cancer patients at each stage of the journey. The diagnosis package includes books about breast cancer, mastectomy, and reconstruction; tissues; pamphlets about local programs and resources; and other tidbits. The chemotherapy package includes a children's book to explain chemotherapy "chemo shark" to your children and grandchildren; a turban head covering; information on local wig places and coupons; crossword puzzle books to do during treatment; and guides produced by the NIH for eating well and caring for yourself during chemotherapy. The radiation package includes several types of deodorant approved for radiation therapy; moisturizer; gauze and tape to pack your breasts; approved body soap for radiation therapy; tank tops (you can' wear a bra); and coupons for more of these items if necessary.

Bikers for Breast Cancer- provides a $500 gift card to those currently undergoing breast cancer treatment to defray co pays, help with groceries, pay for gas, etc., once (twice if the person has a recurrence).


I kind of bristle at the idea that charities don't help people or that they are just sinks for administrative perks. Most of these charities, particularly the local ones, do a LOT of good with very little resources. (Positively Pink Packages has 100% of donations go directly into providing services- and they are aggressive in getting companies to donate supplies- entirely volunteer run out of a basement of a survivor.)

If people are looking at places to give money to, and want to help cancer patients (particularly breast cancer patients) the list I provided has helped my family. I give money to those places and I KNOW they are helping people.

 

[LizzieMaine]

That’s sad. I’m really interested in politics and culture and their connection. It’s sad that it’s mostly about fashion and stuff, even if that’s really interesting.

My intention wasn’t to start off a big fight here. I’m sorry if anyone’s offended by my statements. It was not meant to be like that by me at all!!!

Thoroughly understood. I hope you don't end up finding the so-called "American perspective" here too suffocating -- one big reason for the ban on outright political talk here is to prevent that from happening.

 

[A-1]

Nah, I’m really interested in getting to know more about the cultural differences. Those aren’t always opinions really. Often those things are just part of us and you never really see them until you see other people are not doing it, or acting like that. I think the more I learn about “other" cultures, the more I learn about “mine”. When I’m traveling to other countries I often end up wondering, why are WE even caring about this...

This shouldn’t stir off a political discussion really, though I think it might be really interesting to get some insights by well-mannered folks like on this very forum. And not going to others... Haha.

 

[LizzieMaine]

As far as doing things for a living, I exterminate syrup clogs in soda fountain drains.

 

[pawineguy]

As far as doing things for a living, I exterminate syrup clogs in soda fountain drains.

Lizzie, great pic! Put that in another section and there are probably 8 - 10 people who can debate the historical accuracy of your coveralls. There's something to be said for being the person that does or can do everything. I'm sure each day is an adventure for you.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Lizzie, great pic! Put that in another section and there are probably 8 - 10 people who can debate the historical accuracy of your coveralls. There's something to be said for being the person that does or can do everything. I'm sure each day is an adventure for you.

That's one way to describe it. In the last twenty-four hours, I've supervised a painting crew, provided emotional counseling to a troubled 22-year-old, dismantled, cleaned, and reassembled an electric butter pump, projected two shows, written five radio scripts, rebuilt a broken seat, sold memberships, serviced the HVAC filters, planned strategy for the summer season, provided first aid, critiqued a tattoo, balanced the cash, and unstopped that drain. And there's still an hour to go before I can go home.

 

[2jakes]

That's one way to describe it. In the last twenty-four hours, I've supervised a painting crew, provided emotional counseling to a troubled 22-year-old, dismantled, cleaned, and reassembled an electric butter pump, projected two shows, written five radio scripts, rebuilt a broken seat, sold memberships, serviced the HVAC filters, planned strategy for the summer season, provided first aid, critiqued a tattoo, balanced the cash, and unstopped that drain. And there's still an hour to go before I can go home.

How are you able to keep your saddles looking so white after all of that ?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Left-over paint.

 

[2jakes]

As what I did for a living...I was the one that brought you all the news for the 5 & 10 .
Shoving a mic & asking the most stupid questions that the producers wanted was something
akin to having a toothache 24/7. On the other hand, I met many famous people that made it
worthwhile & it paid for my saddle shoes.

Now I teach tennis part-time at various community centers for kids mostly to keep them
off the streets. No fancy clubs for me !

 

[dh66]

As far as doing things for a living, I exterminate syrup clogs in soda fountain drains.

View attachment 29887

Exterminate!!

 

[Fading Fast]

That's one way to describe it. In the last twenty-four hours, I've supervised a painting crew, provided emotional counseling to a troubled 22-year-old, dismantled, cleaned, and reassembled an electric butter pump, projected two shows, written five radio scripts, rebuilt a broken seat, sold memberships, serviced the HVAC filters, planned strategy for the summer season, provided first aid, critiqued a tattoo, balanced the cash, and unstopped that drain. And there's still an hour to go before I can go home.

How the heck do you have any time to post here?

I was a bartender years ago and hated dealing with the whole soda pumping system (which was located in the cellar and snaked its way up to the bar via a circuitous route through the cellar before punching its way through the ceiling). Also, and I always think about this in relation to jobs I haven't done (as I had many types of jobs in my youth): most jobs are more complicated than they appear to the customer, so while I don't want to be treated rudely, I tend to give the person in a service role a pretty good amount of leeway as I assume they are dealing with a lot of things I don't know about.

 

[T Jones]

I was a Roofer for 41 years until last year...

Now, I'm a dog trainer. Little Quigley does all my posting for me on the Lounge these days. So blame him.

 

[GHT]

Four years past my shelf life (retirement) date, I was forced to give up work due to the need of a new hip. Can't say that retirement comes easy, I miss the stress of trying to keep all the balls in the air,:juggle: seriously. But retirement it is so I shall have to get on with it.

I lied, I start back next Monday! Can't come quick enough.

 

[jamespowers]

I lied, I start back next Monday! Can't come quick enough.

You got bored eh? lol lol