.... Non profits the new big business

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Oregon study confirms health benefits
of cobblestone walking for older adults
Public Release from Oregon Research Institute, EurekAlert

While everyone in Congress is whining about budget cuts, national defense spending and costs of the Iraqi action, I can't help but be outraged that they overlooking such ridiculous cash expenditures as this study from the Oregon Research Institute.

And what will America take away from this information for their taxes? I'll tell you what THIS American will take away... the fact that I'm probably in the wrong business! Why the heck am I risking my own funds to stay afloat when I can have the American taxpayer fund my business enterprise?

In my naivete, evidently far too many have come to this conclusion earlier than I. According to a February article from Oregon's KATU Ch 2 website, the state's 6th largest private employers are non-profit organizations such as the Oregon Research Institute.

No surprises here, considering the state's renown for "gimme" attitudes INRE domestic and social policies. However I don't think the non-profit's growth in numbers is limited to Oregon. In fact, it could be heralding the new "big business", as evidenced by the late night TV ads for books promoting free gov't grant cash for just about everything. The "gimme" attitude in the US is pervasive, and growing.

Attracting more such groups could be a viable economic development strategy, according to one expert. Many nonprofits offer living-wage jobs unlikely to be outsourced, and bring in grant money that has a ripple effect on the economy.

Others provide social services to those struggling at the bottom end of the income spectrum services that might otherwise fall to local governments.

Nonprofit groups can include children's clubs, helping agencies, hospitals and research organizations. There are public interest law firms, private schools and foundations, parent-teacher associations and service clubs.

"People tend to think of the nonprofit sector as a drag on the economy," said University of Oregon assistant professor Renee Irvin, who directs the school's graduate certificate program in nonprofit management. In fact, they represent a net gain, she said.

Case in point? Noting the growth and proliferation of non-profits, U of Oregon has actually created a new curriculum dedicated to management of non-profits.

Now I have nothing against local employment that contributes to a state's economic stability. But I sure have a problem with the increasing numbers of employers sucking off the nation's taxpayers to start up their company and pay their payroll. Especially when you consider how unfriendly state licensing, taxes and regulations are to the small businessman using his own funds for the same.

And what are the taxpayers getting for their taxes? A piece of paper that states it's beneficial to walk on cobblestones? Pshaw...

The waste of Congressional budgeting and allocation is nothing less than astounding. It is long overdue for some accountants and auditors to start going thru all this pork barrel waste and clean out the sty once and for all.

And until Congress cleans up their act and stops wasting funds on the inconsequential, I don't want to hear one more whine about the cost of Iraq.