Book Review: The Non Non-profit by Steve Rothschild

Steve Rothschild has written an exceptionally perceptive, well researched, and highly relevant analysis of what makes non-profit entities work and, conversely, what causes others to fail. He humbly talks not just about his own enormous success at creating and building a major jobs training program for his practically untrainable clientele, but he also illustrates all of his early failures so no one else need make the same mistakes in their own programs. Rothschild is a true visionary, but unlike most visionaries I know, he has the street-smart savvy and organizational skills that are essential to bring one's visions to life. The book contains a clear step-by-step recipe for success for all non-profit organizations, easy to understand and easy to implement. The book should serve as the single most important resource for anyone involved in any leadership role in any non-profit organization. To me it would be gross negligence to occupy such a position and not read this important book.

The Voter ID Amendment – Just Deceptive Politics

Voters in many states, particularly in my native Minnesota, are being bombarded with advertisements promoting or opposing constitutional amendments to require voter identification cards as a condition for being allowed to vote. The sole justification for this requirement is the prevention of voter fraud, and most ads cite various anecdotal evidence of some irregularity that has occurred and which might theoretically have been prevented had there been a voter ID law in place.

The thing that I find most perplexing about this debate is why it is so partisan--Republicans pushing the amendment and Democrats opposing it. If there actually is significant evidence of voter fraud, why doesn’t everyone, Republicans and Democrats alike, want to curtail it? Does anyone really believe that Democrats are actually in favor of voter fraud and only Republicans stand on the ethical high road?

The Presidential Debates – Who Won?

I am always perplexed by the incessant media and internet traffic focused on who won the last debate. Really, why does anyone care? The one and only time the president of the United States engages in any debate is during election season. Never once does he debate against anyone as a part of his official duties. So why do we care whether we elect a president who is good at debate?

Who appeared more confident? Who appeared more “presidential?” Who was more aggressive? Who was more in control?

Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act – Give It a Chance

Most of the media coverage on ObamaCare is politically charged and only rarely is there an article or study that provides the true facts about the program. Of course, it’s far easier to write saucy one-liners that catch the eye of whoever likes the tone of the headline, but actually studying and understanding the lengthy, complex legislation takes some time and dedication. Since no one is doing this, 95% of the people who freely offer opinions about ObamaCare haven’t the foggiest idea what they are talking about. So why not give Americans the real truth?

Who Pays? The Truth About the American Tax System

There have been several recent articles discussing the American tax structure, and frankly they are all foreboding. According to a recent Tax Policy Center study, about 67 million Americans paid no federal income taxes last year. Excluding children, that’s about 40% of the entire US population who pay no taxes at all. In other words, only 60% of us support the entire massive federal infrastructure.

So who doesn’t pay?