church assistance and ipad

[SoonerCoug]

The poor politics of the 90's has led to poor access to healthcare. I saw a pediatric patient today that needs a quick specialist consult. However, the family has medicaid...so the soonest is 3 months. If that child had insurance, he would be seen tomorrow, maybe the next day. Why? Because CMS is charity care.

Send them to an academic center that wouldn't delay the consult over medicaid.

My patients are all on medicaid, and they get in to see a specialist the next day if they need it.

[doctorcoug]

Send them to an academic center that wouldn't delay the consult over medicaid.

My patients are all on medicaid, and they get in to see a specialist the next day if they need it.

It is an academic center. Nobody accepts medicaid from my state. They are now 8 months behind in payments.

[SoonerCoug]

It is an academic center. Nobody accepts medicaid from my state. They are now 8 months behind in payments.

Tell them to go to another state or to Canada.

[doctorcoug]

Tell them to go to another state or to Canada.

Canada seems reasonable.

You know, not a bad option. I mean, most of the people here on welfare are unemployed. Why not move to a wealthier state where they would get better medical care?

[CardiacCoug]

The poor politics of the 90's has led to poor access to healthcare. I saw a pediatric patient today that needs a quick specialist consult. However, the family has medicaid...so the soonest is 3 months. If that child had insurance, he would be seen tomorrow, maybe the next day. Why? Because CMS is charity care.

I will see a Medicaid patient or completely uninsured patient in the clinic immediately (same day) if necessary, and of course I see these patients every day in the hospital.

If it really is an urgent problem, I would think there are plenty of ethical docs who would work the kid in ASAP.

[beefytee]

You think I'm that stupid? I've probably taken out double the loans that you have. I'm not an idiot.

Am I the only one who burst out laughing at this comment?

It reminds me of Better Off Dead:

I've been going to this high school for seven and a half years. I'm no dummy.

[Moliere]

I don't really care about WIC or whether people use it, but there is yet another path that people aren't discussing: delay reproduction until AFTER you have a job. Then you definitely don't need WIC.

Yeah, because surprise pregnancies don't ever happen. Next you are going to tell us to delay sex (at least with our spouse) until after we graduate.

[SoonerCoug]

Yeah, because surprise pregnancies don't ever happen. Next you are going to tell us to delay sex (at least with our spouse) until after we graduate.

Pretty soon they will have male birth control that makes sperm swim in circles. When both men and women will be on the pill, there will be no more excuses.

[The_Tick]

Give me a break...

Are you talking about the local books or the books of COPB and COP?

The local units get audited multiple times a year. The quickest way for an excommunication is for a Bishop or other bishopric member to be caught misusing funds. I guarantee you your local unit isn't siphoning funds or you would quickly hear about the excommunications in the ward. There are plenty of members in your ward that can see a copy of the local books at any time. If you want to see a copy of the local books, trying increasing your faith a bit to the point where you get a leadership calling - then you can look at the books whenever you want.

As far as the COPB and COP, they also get audited multiple times a year. Oh, I know, even the auditors are in collusion with the corrupt men in power - right?

I will make the argument I've made multiple times on this board: If those with stewardship over tithing funds (The Council on the Disposition of the Tithes) are siphoning money, what they heck are they doing with it? Where are the lavish lifestyles? Where are the private jets? Where are the vacations on the beach? Oh, I know, maybe they're socking it away in Swiss bank accounts - so they can do what? Pass it on to their kids? If so, then generations of their kids are also damned disciplined to not spend any of the vast amounts of stolen money they've inherited.

Get real dude. If your faith gets smaller each year due to doctrinal reasons, so be it; however, using the disposition of tithes/offerings as an excuse is lame.

NB: Fast Offerings stay in the local unit where they are contributed. Only if there is a large annual surplus are they forwarded up the ladder. They then go to the stake unit to be used within the stake and then, if there is a large surplus, on up the ladder.

Hey hot shot...how do you think I know who was receiving assistance?

I have had plenty of callings. I even hold TWO right now...because I can't say no.

I have a problem when a family who is having their needs met through the Fast Offering funds roll into church with the family 2 pack of iPads. Real big issue.

I don't want a calling where I have to decide. I don't want to be the ward financial clerk. I am one of the STP. (Same Ten People) I am the one who sets all the shit up for the party and breaks it all down. I am the one in the ward choir. I am the one subbing in classes when others don't. I am the guy who shows up and helps people move and spends half a day there because some other jackass is more important than me and would rather "spend time with his family". Well no doubt. So would I. If they would help I could get home that much faster.

I help push the cart. I don't drag it back. But I also don't do "Mormon Nice". Something smells...I ask what the smell is. Something doesn't sound right...I question it. Every ward needs a few of those folks.

I get tired of those that sit on their ass and suck off of the Church because they know they can.

[BigFatMeanie]

BFM, this highlighted portion was a cheap shot, particularly since The Tick has served for many years in one of the most crucial local leadership positions in the Church (YM President) and by third party accounts has performed superbly well. I'm certain his struggles with faith have nothing to do with concerns over what the ward financial clerk or bishop might be doing with his contributions. We are better for having people like The Tick who struggle with faith; it's that struggle that ultimately makes all of us stronger.

But I agree the funds of the Church are managed as well or better than any very large organization (with thousands of branch offices) of which I'm aware, and the possiblity of fraud, at least on an ongoing basis, is extremely slight.

I'll concede that there was some cheapness in that comment.

I'm irritated is because of the underlying implications of Tick's huge issue. Whether it is the local leadership or the SLC leadership, the only implication of church finances being a huge issue for anyone is thievery on the part of the leadership.

And I don't buy any "I'm just concerned with how the church is spending its money - whether we're spending it on the right things" line. One can argue that the Church shouldn't be spending money on real estate, that they shouldn't be spending money on BYU, and that they shouldn't be spending money on new chapels when there are starving people in the world. None of those arguments have anything to do with the bookkeeping practices of the church.

Both local leaders and the men in SLC sacrifice a great deal to serve the best they can. Feel free to think the old men in SLC are stupid rubes that don't know any better. Think they are delusional in their silly beliefs. Think that local leaders are unqualified or in over their heads. Those kind of thoughts get plastered on CUF all the time and rarely draw fire from me. But imply that there is some personal financial gain involved on the part of either local or SLC leadership and we'll tangle.

[Moliere]

Give me a break...

Are you talking about the local books or the books of COPB and COP?

The local units get audited multiple times a year. The quickest way for an excommunication is for a Bishop or other bishopric member to be caught misusing funds. I guarantee you your local unit isn't siphoning funds or you would quickly hear about the excommunications in the ward. There are plenty of members in your ward that can see a copy of the local books at any time. If you want to see a copy of the local books, trying increasing your faith a bit to the point where you get a leadership calling - then you can look at the books whenever you want.

As far as the COPB and COP, they also get audited multiple times a year. Oh, I know, even the auditors are in collusion with the corrupt men in power - right?

I will make the argument I've made multiple times on this board: If those with stewardship over tithing funds (The Council on the Disposition of the Tithes) are siphoning money, what they heck are they doing with it? Where are the lavish lifestyles? Where are the private jets? Where are the vacations on the beach? Oh, I know, maybe they're socking it away in Swiss bank accounts - so they can do what? Pass it on to their kids? If so, then generations of their kids are also damned disciplined to not spend any of the vast amounts of stolen money they've inherited.

Get real dude. If your faith gets smaller each year due to doctrinal reasons, so be it; however, using the disposition of tithes/offerings as an excuse is lame.

NB: Fast Offerings stay in the local unit where they are contributed. Only if there is a large annual surplus are they forwarded up the ladder. They then go to the stake unit to be used within the stake and then, if there is a large surplus, on up the ladder.

This is a good post (well except the part PAC pointed out but I'll excuse that). People complain about the church and its finances and I'm guilty of this on occasion ($3 billion to build a mall, really?) but if anyone disses the local handling of fast offerings they are off their rocker except in rare occasions.

The fast offering program is something that I've seen over the past number of years and it works very effectively in comparison to any other program. Needs are met, food is provided, and other assistance (financial planning, counseling, etc.) is given free of charge to those who are in need. It's also administered on a one-on-one basis with the bishop so there is no qualifications to be met other then being in need and those needs are assessed by the Bishop. Sure the Bishop might mess up here or there, but for the most part it works.

Keep in mind that all fast offering checks are approved by the Bishop and the fast offering donations are compared against fast offering payments for each ward by the stake president.

Now I can understand where The Tick is coming from given his run ins with leadership but I'm afraid that any insistence to "see the books" will only result in his disappointment in finding out how well the program is ran as well as him finding out who is really on assistance, which is not also a good thing to know.

[The_Tick]

I'll concede that there was some cheapness in that comment.

I'm irritated is because of the underlying implications of Tick's huge issue. Whether it is the local leadership or the SLC leadership, the only implication of church finances being a huge issue for anyone is thievery on the part of the leadership.

And I don't buy any "I'm just concerned with how the church is spending its money - whether we're spending it on the right things" line. One can argue that the Church shouldn't be spending money on real estate, that they shouldn't be spending money on BYU, and that they shouldn't be spending money on new chapels when there are starving people in the world. None of those arguments have anything to do with the bookkeeping practices of the church.

Both local leaders and the men in SLC sacrifice a great deal to serve the best they can. Feel free to think the old men in SLC are stupid rubes that don't know any better. Think they are delusional in their silly beliefs. Think that local leaders are unqualified or in over their heads. Those kind of thoughts get plastered on CUF all the time and rarely draw fire from me. But imply that there is some personal financial gain involved on the part of either local or SLC leadership and we'll tangle.

Wrong. You shot and you missed.

I have full faith that none of the Leaders in my Ward/Stake are taking money.

Thanks for playing though. Stressful day at work?

[BigFatMeanie]

Hey hot shot...how do you think I know who was receiving assistance?

I have had plenty of callings. I even hold TWO right now...because I can't say no.

I have a problem when a family who is having their needs met through the Fast Offering funds roll into church with the family 2 pack of iPads. Real big issue.

I don't want a calling where I have to decide. I don't want to be the ward financial clerk. I am one of the STP. (Same Ten People) I am the one who sets all the shit up for the party and breaks it all down. I am the one in the ward choir. I am the one subbing in classes when others don't. I am the guy who shows up and helps people move and spends half a day there because some other jackass is more important than me and would rather "spend time with his family". Well no doubt. So would I. If they would help I could get home that much faster.

I help push the cart. I don't drag it back. But I also don't do "Mormon Nice". Something smells...I ask what the smell is. Something doesn't sound right...I question it. Every ward needs a few of those folks.

I get tired of those that sit on their ass and suck off of the Church because they know they can.

So, if you know the inflows and outflows, then what the heck are you complaining about? You're saying you don't want to have to make the judgment call, the hard decision - you just want to be free to criticize it?

[The_Tick]

So, if you know the inflows and outflows, then what the heck are you complaining about? You're saying you don't want to have to make the judgment call, the hard decision - you just want to be free to criticize it?

Did you miss the part where the family that is having their needs met by the funds I a giving to the ward rolls in with the brand spanking new iPads? That part is the part I would like to complain about.

Of course I am free to criticize.

[Shaka]

Hey hot shot...how do you think I know who was receiving assistance?

I have had plenty of callings. I even hold TWO right now...because I can't say no.

I have a problem when a family who is having their needs met through the Fast Offering funds roll into church with the family 2 pack of iPads. Real big issue.

I don't want a calling where I have to decide. I don't want to be the ward financial clerk. I am one of the STP. (Same Ten People) I am the one who sets all the shit up for the party and breaks it all down. I am the one in the ward choir. I am the one subbing in classes when others don't. I am the guy who shows up and helps people move and spends half a day there because some other jackass is more important than me and would rather "spend time with his family". Well no doubt. So would I. If they would help I could get home that much faster.

I help push the cart. I don't drag it back. But I also don't do "Mormon Nice". Something smells...I ask what the smell is. Something doesn't sound right...I question it. Every ward needs a few of those folks.

I get tired of those that sit on their ass and suck off of the Church because they know they can.

I was a lot like you until I learned to say no. Cutting back helped keep my sanity and I think benefited my faith. Had I kept up the crazy pace I'm sure I would have burnt out and possibly quit.