Posted by
ConservativeGuy on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 6:00:00 PM
I will take lessons in my own life as a basis to build upon as I descibe a workable structure for privatization in a competitive environment. As a young father, I quickly learned that each member of my family had special and unique talents and abilities. I also learned that these talents and abilities could become and often times were the solutions to my families' challenges. In pondering these things, I discovered that the purpose of my employment was that my employer directly or indirectly financially sponsored the solution to my families' challenges in exchange for my loyal service. As the most significant part of a prosperous society, the solutions to state and national issues are found on these fundamental family and conservative principles.
Social Entrepreneurship
The structure for social entrepreneurship has always begun with tax-exempt membership organizations in building a grass-roots organizations that sponsor social change through membership participation. Charitable organizations also have a similar structure and financing capacity to government in that it is generally supported by members and/or corporate sponsors with the ability to bond against assets and future income for the current benefit of the value of money. Charities have long since demonstrated its ability to bring together a large group of people who support similar values, vision, and needs in order to fill those social needs collectively rather than individually.
Some charitable organizations even offer charitable accounts called "Donor-Directed" Foundation Accounts which allow individuals, families, businesses, other charities, etc. to contribute into a charitable bank account to be used for charitable purposes such as humanitarian aide, education, religious service, among others. These accounts allow groups to raise funds together for specific causes that are important to them while building value for the membership itself.
The vary purpose of a tax-exempt organization is to "reduce the financial burden of government." Instead of government administering to all of our needs, charities offer a private sector solution where the contributor recieves a tax benefit for their contributions. I believe charities should take larger pieces of our federal and state government services in areas such as: welfare services, education, healthcare, energy, etc. In fact, my understanding of the Constitution is that the only departments our federal government should have are the Department of Commerce and the Department of Defense. Everything else should be privatized through charitable membership organizations such as religious charities, collegiate allumni associations, professional associations, and membership organizations.
Promotion/Sponsorship
For every interest there is an audience who will believe in it. For businesses that seek to solve problems with products and/or services, they are constantly seeking those audiences who are most likely to buy from them. What better way is there to promote the branding of products and services in the eyes of their audience than to sponsor the social needs of their customer audience? Currently, sponsorship accounts for roughly 70% of all marketing and advertising budgets in the United States according to some industry data. Such promotional activities include: sponsorship of athletic competitions such as collegiate and professional teams, community events such as the 4th of July parade, fireworks, and even state and county fairs. The concept of promotional sponsorship is the need for businesses to associate something good with their product/service brands in the eyes of customers.
Government/Charity Partnership
To bring these two elements of social connections to families (groups who share similar needs) with a structure of finance and promotion establishes a precedent for reform at the smallest common denominator. Charitable organizations must have the power to sell or offer social necessity products and services to its members from for-profit companies in order to strengthen sustainable performance and value. Government should grant these charitable membership organizations a portion of the budget the current government departments and agencies have for operations until corporate sponsors and membership contributions can eliminate the need for government funding in say ten years. This allows government to no longer require so much in tax dollars for operations because the bureaucracy is almost eliminated from government and placed in the competitive environment of private enterprise with a great deal less power and control.
For those seeking services, they can utilize approved fundraising activities that will stimulate the economy such as a dance, a bake sale, a conference, etc. along with corporate sponsors who want the attention of prospective customers and improve their brand recognition as away to raise money for such things as: health, life, auto, home insurance, debt reduction, mortgage payments, a food budget, retirement benefits, utility payments, and auto fuel, all of which are family needs.
Legislation Requirements:
Tax exemption and allowances of life needs products/services when sold through (not from) charitable membership organizations
Competition of charitable services providers to drive value to members and allow them to have choice
Members must have a voting voice in services and leadership of charitable organization offering services to members
All charitable membership organizations are qualified based on the size of their membership base with partnership and allowances for small charities with annual revenues of less than $10 million so that barriers to entry are eliminated
To participate in other similar discussions, join us for free at www.millennialpac.org. Just register and join us. Perhaps, you may even be interested in leading one of our committees. Again, membership is free for a time.