http://www.partisanfreepolitics.com/2007/08/the-rich-mans-burden/ Partisan Free Politics, a place to discuss the intersection of everyday life - policy - and the politics of possibility Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:01:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 http://www.partisanfreepolitics.com/2007/08/the-rich-mans-burden/#comment-114 Andrew Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:12:53 +0000 http://www.partisanfreepolitics.com/2007/08/the-rich-mans-burden/#comment-114 <p><p>I need to preface my response by saying that initially I intended to do legitimate research (i.e. I contacted the GAO and asked them for a few numbers specifically figures on how much the gov spends on overhead vs program cost). My recent stay in the hospital has prevented me from spending much time on this, so I am just going to go with my gut. Another disclaimer, I am on Rush Limbaugh style painkillers at the moment (though a lesser dose)…</p><br /> <p>2 and 3) I think in many ways robust philanthropy does offset the lower degree of taxes. In one fell swoop the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation did as much to combat aids as the U.S. government (both donating 1 billion). This makes me think much better of the profits He made while revolutionizing the computer industry (though even that was a fantastic contribution to society).</p><br /> <p>If anything, I think we should increase the incentives for people to donate to non-profits, especially creating large funds to sustain them. Though bereft with their own problems, I’d rather not leave our education, healthcare, environmental (both conservation and preservation) and other systems in the hands Washington D.C. politicians. That being said, projects like <a href="http://www.socialmarkets.org/" rel="nofollow">Social Markets, which encourage transparency in the non-profit industry</a>, should be encouraged and supported.</p><br /> <p>1) CEO’s make exorbitant amounts of money. At the same time, look at the compensation that politicians receive. On the books, the <a href="http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/fedprssal.html" rel="nofollow">President makes $400,000</a> and rank and file <a href="http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa031200a.htm" rel="nofollow">Members of Congress make $165,000</a>. One thing that I find ironic is that U.S. businesspersons are leading the world, while U.S. politicians are inept. I understand this is not a 1 to 1 comparison, but there is something about pay does seem to attract bright people.</p><br /> <p>So having given my opinion to Rudo’s questions, the question I want to know from the next person is, “What are the relative overhead costs of the private industry, non-profits, and local state and/or federal government?”</p></p> <p>I need to preface my response by saying that initially I intended to do legitimate research (i.e. I contacted the GAO and asked them for a few numbers specifically figures on how much the gov spends on overhead vs program cost). My recent stay in the hospital has prevented me from spending much time on this, so I am just going to go with my gut. Another disclaimer, I am on Rush Limbaugh style painkillers at the moment (though a lesser dose)…</p>
<p>2 and 3) I think in many ways robust philanthropy does offset the lower degree of taxes. In one fell swoop the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation did as much to combat aids as the U.S. government (both donating 1 billion). This makes me think much better of the profits He made while revolutionizing the computer industry (though even that was a fantastic contribution to society).</p>
<p>If anything, I think we should increase the incentives for people to donate to non-profits, especially creating large funds to sustain them. Though bereft with their own problems, I’d rather not leave our education, healthcare, environmental (both conservation and preservation) and other systems in the hands Washington D.C. politicians. That being said, projects like <a href=”http://www.socialmarkets.org/” rel=”nofollow”>Social Markets, which encourage transparency in the non-profit industry</a>, should be encouraged and supported.</p>
<p>1) CEO’s make exorbitant amounts of money. At the same time, look at the compensation that politicians receive. On the books, the <a href=”http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/fedprssal.html” rel=”nofollow”>President makes $400,000</a> and rank and file <a href=”http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa031200a.htm” rel=”nofollow”>Members of Congress make $165,000</a>. One thing that I find ironic is that U.S. businesspersons are leading the world, while U.S. politicians are inept. I understand this is not a 1 to 1 comparison, but there is something about pay does seem to attract bright people.</p>
<p>So having given my opinion to Rudo’s questions, the question I want to know from the next person is, “What are the relative overhead costs of the private industry, non-profits, and local state and/or federal government?”</p>

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