This Blog Entry
is a little different. Instead of me
giving my thoughts, I am inviting students from my NMP 665 class (Law, Policy, Government and Nonprofits) to
comment on President Obama’s inaugural address today with particular attention
to two paragraphs that he spoke toward the end of his speech:
They are the words of citizens and they represent our greatest hope. You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course. You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time — not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.”
A major theme of NMP 665 is that nonprofits—throughout our nation’s history—have enabled common citizens to make their collective voices heard by their government. We will discuss this function of nonprofits in great detail next week, but since we have already touched on this theme, I wanted to take the opportunity created by the President’s speech to further this discussion now.
PS Anyone can “chime in” to the discussion and you can read the entire speech at
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/president-barack-obamas-2013-inaugural-address-full-text-86497.html
To me, the message I took from these two paragraphs is that the respective purposes and missions of nonprofits are all catered to provide for public good, regardless. Therefore, in an individual context, providing for the unfortunate, underprivileged and discriminated is our personal responsibility rather than something we are told to do.
ReplyDeleteBridget,
ReplyDeleteThanks for you response. You speak about nonprofits and individuals doing good by caring for the needy. My question would be, "How best can nonprofits do that---through direct service provision or through advocacy/lobbying that "shapes the debates of our time?"
This is directly related to the "Executive's Dilemma" that is the culmination of this week's readings and discussions.
Jeff
It seems to me that nonprofits must address these social issues of the country through both means. Direct services provides immediate assistance to our neighbors in need. However, this acts only as a band-aid. Without suport from the nation as a whole, problems big and small, cannot be solved.
DeleteNonprofits can work individually to help individuals in their immediate community who are in need, but they cannot solve the heart of the issue alone. They can get dozens of homeless individuals off the street, but it is a national problem as to why this many people are homeless in the first place. It is incredible important for nonprofits to offer direct service, to fulfill mission, and help their communities. However, it is also important that the issues they represent begin to take the stage on the national forum. To solve a problem, it must first be defined and we must solve the root of the problem not the affects.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI think that lobbying/advocacy addresses issues in a long term manner. This is because by altering public policies, people are protected by the government as well. It seems like a better sense of assurance. Having said that, direct service provisions are important as well, but in a short term manner. The well-being of consumers/clients receiving direct service provisions are not protected in a long run if all they are receiving is services and the particular public policy is not altered to protect them.
DeleteIn President Obama's address, he reaffirms how people can come together and transform what they want this country to be. We, as citizens, have the power to rise up and address our concerns. We do this by building nonprofits and serving the people and looking out for others at all times.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that President Obama supports the people helping other people with government assistance concept. In his speech, he mentions two points that address this. " Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune"
ReplyDeleteand "We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn." These exhibit the belief that nonprofits are important and hopefully the president will put the money where his mouth is.
Anne,
DeleteYou say you hope "the President will put the money where his mouth is." Would like to see increased funding for nonprofit provision of public services and why?
Jeff
President Obama’s Inaugural Speech is an open invitation to participate for the common good. It is reinstating there are opportunities here for everybody. In his words, “You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course”.
ReplyDeleteSteuerle and Hodgkinson say: “the real growth in nonprofit resources overtime has come from increased government funding”. There are more resources in the government than in nonprofits. We, as nonprofit organization representatives cannot expect to be able to cover for all the existing needs. I personally think that by establishing more lobbying organizations could be a good way to intervene and participate in policy making, if we do not want to compromise our 501 (c) (3) status.
American citizens do not realize how much power they have to make so many changes happen, not only for this country, but around the world where U.S. policies affect or can make a big difference as well. If we get together and speak up about injustices, we would really have a much better world!
Marikler,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you assessment, "American citizens do not realize how much power they have." It's been a long time since there was mass demonstrations and Marches on Washington, but there were big and they had impact.
Also, a little later in the course we will learn about 501c4 nonprofits that have no restrictions on the amount of lobbying they can legally do. This is an alternative nonprofit designation that nonprofits can get from the IRS. It allows for unlimited lobbying but it does not give donors the tax benefit of deducting from their income taxes contributions to 501c4 organizations. OK?
Jeff
As reiterated in President’s Obama’s speech, challenges should be embraced and looked upon as opportunities for positive change and innovations. “My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it — so long as we seize it together", Obama. Opportunities are meant to be seized and made the most out of. With the economic crises and two wars, the nation is determined to make a clean break and come out even stronger. The government cannot serve the common good in isolation and there is a need for collective action. The nonprofit sector has been relied upon for ages, to implement change strategies and policies directed by the government. What is actually crucial, is the practicality of the rules and guidelines that accompany funding to organizations. Nonprofit leaders however, should advocate and speak up when there is a need for a compromise to make things work effectively in their communities. Our main concern in this sector is mission maximization.
ReplyDeleteUrsula,
ReplyDeleteNicely put. Challenges are opportunities. It really is a mindset that says, "The glass is half full. Let's fill it all the way up!" instead of bemoaning that the glass is half empty.
You also state at the end of your post: "What is actually crucial, is the practicality of the rules and guidelines that accompany funding to organizations. Nonprofit leaders however, should advocate and speak up when there is a need for a compromise to make things work effectively in their communities. Our main concern in this sector is mission maximization."
This is the crux of the challenge for Nonprofit Executives: "How do you, the ED, work with the government to deliver public services within the realities of the allowable funding program guidelines and strike compromises where you can WHILE still remaining true to your own nonprofit's goal of mission maximization?"
Jeff
For me, one of the key statements in President Obama's speech was "The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed." There is an expectation that people (individuals, nonprofits, collaborative associations) will challenge government, when necessary, to ensure that it is a servant of the people, not a dictator. It is our job, as residents of the United States, to sometimes act as adversaries to the government in order to effect change.
ReplyDeleteIt is up as individuals to voice our opinions as to what the government should be doing and it is the responsibility of the government to enact our collective will. This does mean that sometimes will will be advocating a minority position and so it will feel like we are in opposition to our government. But participation in the process is the first key step in an effective democracy as was highlighted in our Week 4 O'Connell readings.
ReplyDeleteJeff