The U.S. Census Bureau recently released a report on poverty in this country. I will be using that report coupled with several other statistics for my comments below:
*46.2 million people/15.1% live at or below the poverty level. This rose for the 4th straight year.
*U.S. unemployment rate is 9.6%. Ohio's August rate was 9.1%.
*14.5% of American households are food insecure--their cupboards are bare on occasion.
*The Census Bureau defines "poor" as any individual living on an income of less than $11,139, or any family of four living on less than $22,314. That measurement was developed over 40 years ago and some feel the equation has flaws.
The Census Bureau is using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Federal Poverty Guideline. The U.S. Department of Labor has its own definition of poverty--Lower Living Standard Income Level. The income rates are very similar to the Poverty Guidelines, but are nonetheless different. That means 2 separate agencies have their own definitions of poverty which is bureaucracy at its worst.
The reason I am leading off with these statistics is to underscore the importance of a self-reliance wage.
There are 2080 hours in a 40 hour work week in a year. The Census Bureau's definition of poor for a family of four means that those working combined in that household are making approximately no more than $10.00/hr. Minimum Wage in Ohio is $7.40/hr.
And thus the discussion begins: do benefits count when considering hourly wage? In my view they do not because they don't contribute to a household income but others argue they help with medical insurance which would be an out-of-pocket expense if it wasn't covered by insurance.
Here is something else: several jobs are a way of life in some areas of the state--a low paying job and odd jobs/freelance work. The combination barely gets the household by but they are counted together to form a "working wage" for the household. The first job is not self reliant. The employer and the employee knows that. The supplemental source of income may not be odd jobs. It could very likely be the government. Government programs such as "food stamps", "medical card", WIC, and others provide the support the family counts on to make up the difference. This is not self reliance, but again minimum wage does not support a family of 4. Whatever it is, the first job is not enough. There is always a supplemental source of income.
This is a very complicated situation that involves employers, a skilled workforce, a community with strong standards, and everyone understanding what is at stake if they get selfish. Self reliance begets self esteem, self motivation, self discovery and determination. Workers who are trusted give back and companies who are trusted give back too. It is in everyone's best interest to seriously consider self reliance and what it would mean for their community.
Panoramic View
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Spiritual Sunday: Sifting through Sand
Did you ever have a sifter designed to use in a sandbox as a child? Usually they were the size of a round cake pan with numerous small holes and you would dip into the sand and gently shake the sand in the sifter. The object was to see what "treasures" you would find. Sometimes these treasures would be buried on purpose and sometimes they had just drifted on their own into the sandbox. Sometimes we would take them to the beach and see if we could find pretty shells buried below the surface.
People will use "sifting through time" or "sifting through the years" as reference to the above activity, referring to memories of days gone by. Usually they are thinking of an important event or perhaps a way of living that has put its mark on history and is no more.
I heard someone mention their parents had recently passed on and now the siblings were sifting through their loved ones' home. They were able to rebuild, if you will, the type of life their parents had led by the evidence they had left. Their belongings, writings, books, etc. confirmed to the children they had led a good life, a life the children could confirm was an honorable one.
What would relatives or those entrusted find when they sift through your home at your passing? Evidence of an honorable life, one of service to others, one that was kind and helpful? One that used your natural/acquired talents and gifts? One that figured out what was really important in life?
We know how to be a good person- say please, tell the truth, give to the poor, etc. Talents/skills/gifts may be harder. So many times we think of these as insurmountable obstacles - time, money, etc. that we don't even try. But we can be a good person and we can use our talents. At the beginning we may have to actually write them into our planner (volunteer at...., sign up for the class......., personal time.......) but gradually they become an integral part of us and our brain just knows what to do. You have the capacity to have an honorable and good life and leave the evidence behind to prove it.
People will use "sifting through time" or "sifting through the years" as reference to the above activity, referring to memories of days gone by. Usually they are thinking of an important event or perhaps a way of living that has put its mark on history and is no more.
I heard someone mention their parents had recently passed on and now the siblings were sifting through their loved ones' home. They were able to rebuild, if you will, the type of life their parents had led by the evidence they had left. Their belongings, writings, books, etc. confirmed to the children they had led a good life, a life the children could confirm was an honorable one.
What would relatives or those entrusted find when they sift through your home at your passing? Evidence of an honorable life, one of service to others, one that was kind and helpful? One that used your natural/acquired talents and gifts? One that figured out what was really important in life?
We know how to be a good person- say please, tell the truth, give to the poor, etc. Talents/skills/gifts may be harder. So many times we think of these as insurmountable obstacles - time, money, etc. that we don't even try. But we can be a good person and we can use our talents. At the beginning we may have to actually write them into our planner (volunteer at...., sign up for the class......., personal time.......) but gradually they become an integral part of us and our brain just knows what to do. You have the capacity to have an honorable and good life and leave the evidence behind to prove it.
Alone in the Car: Medical Coding
Annually I make sure I make an appointment to see my gynecologist for an examination and testing for cervical cancer. If this does not apply to you, it is still important and I encourage you to pass this story on to other women.
About 2 years ago there were changes in my insurance coverage so the annual visit became free. Previously there was a co-pay as any other visit to the doctor's, which in my case the doctors in our health insurance plan expect me to pay at the time of the appointment.
My annual falls in December which I did in December, 2010. I recently received a bill from my doctor and it did not list the reason why so I called their business office. It turns out I was receiving a bill from the December visit. But I explained I had come to the office for my annual visit. Yes, they agreed. But since I had discussed other things with the doctor during the visit, it could be coded as more than just my annual visit and the business office was doing just that. Thus I owed the doctor a co-pay since they were putting the paper work through the insurance for reimbursement for the visit.
Do you see what just happened? If I had only said "hi" to the doctor, the doctor performed the pap smear, and I left, the appointment would have been free. But since I had a conversation with the doctor about other things, rightfully so the doctor's office put through paperwork to the insurance with a different medical code. When I called in to make an appointment, the receptionist wrote in the medical code for my annual visit. But when looking a the doctor's notes, the business office figured out they could put my visit through insurance as something else.
This is important for several reasons.
1. Check with your insurance. You may have a similar situation and think your pap smear visit is free but as soon as you bring up other subjects, the business office will bill you for the visit.
2. Most Americans forget that doctors/dentists, etc. are small business owners. They have seen their practices/appointments reduced by 25-50% during this recession. They have had to make decisions too just like any small business.
3. The business office was doing what it was hired to do. I called them up, we had a good conversation, and they deleted my bill, but they didn't have to. I certainly don't blame them for what they are doing. I do wonder about the 9 month lapse.
4. Health insurance is extremely complex and complicated. Obamacare is going to make matters worse. I grew up at a point in history when employers were not involved at all in health insurance. It will be interesting to see the next step in this evolution play out.
5. We need to be very aware. Check your bills, ask for a details, etc. A long time ago when my children were young, I once asked about the cost of a shot. The reply - "oh, your insurance is covering it, so it is free." No, it is not. We have an amount taken out of my husband's check each month. It is definitely not free. Those monthly charges are based on all the statistics the insurance company collects and costs incurred. That shot was a cost.
For business, everything is about their bottom line. For a household, we have to do the same.
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