Are There Any Businesses/industries That Should Be Non-profit?

[fitche]

This is totally open-ended, I've got no preconceptions. But I was asking yourself whether or not there need to be a profit motive in an market that is supposed to be helping to preserve us healthful. And that got me asking yourself if there are any other industries where the profit motive gets in the way. Or, is the profit motive what keeps businesses on the cutting edge in all instances?It is not a fully formed query/believed. But I believed I'd throw it out there and see what occurs.

[Ewan]

kymlor said: 2 Any business/service that is supposed to "benefit all", should probably be nationalized/non-profit.. Otherwise the system evolves into an expensive greedy mess that benefits the few.. 55 months ago

[Dunne]

Profit in health care This is a long debated question - should those doing good be allowed to make a profit.  Business exists to make profits, but it is the amount of profit that they make that is at issue.  The nonprofit role in all of this are the organizations who lobby to keep down costs of health care and allow more access.    We are in an era of gouging in all areas of consumption - healthcare is no exception.  Consumers are very vulnerable to health care cost increases, because most folks when asked will say that their good health is worth anything to attain.  That is a hard one to fight.  That is why consumer groups are needed to educate consumers.   Not sure that this is more than an open ended answer but these are my thoughts. peppercat 55 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Elliot]

This is a long debated question - should those doing good be allowed to make a profit.  Business exists to make profits, but it is the amount of profit that they make that is at issue.  The nonprofit role in all of this are the organizations who lobby to keep down costs of health care and allow more access.    We are in an era of gouging in all areas of consumption - healthcare is no exception.  Consumers are very vulnerable to health care cost increases, because most folks when asked will say that their good health is worth anything to attain.  That is a hard one to fight.  That is why consumer groups are needed to educate consumers.   Not sure that this is more than an open ended answer but these are my thoughts.

[Cher]

Curious2135 said: 1 I do not believe that health care should be treated as a commodity and that it should not be for profit. 55 months ago

[jerard]

Any business/service that is supposed to "benefit all", should probably be nationalized/non-profit.. Otherwise the system evolves into an expensive greedy mess that benefits the few..

[Brody]

Let's think about the term "Not For Profit" for a moment. We're still talking about business here. There will be employees, overhead, expenses - this company will produce something(whether it will be human services or widgets, it is still providing something someone will pay for) - and the end result is that the company operates up to and not over the profit level, but doesn't run in the red. Now that's a difficult thing to do . . . What will be the motivation for the employees? How do you hire and keep people who are capable of running such a business? Huge salaries - mega vacation packages? My guess is you will have to find people who are dedicated to a cause . . . not a paycheck.So you ask Are there any businesses/industries that should be non-profit?" There is one company that I know of(I'm sure there are many more) that works to advance the inclusion and integration of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. The mission statement:(The entity) exists as a non-profit membership association to provide services in the community for persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Our mission is to offer individuals and their families an opportunity to achieve self determined goals. All services strive to promote choices intended to meet each person's therapeutic, residential, and employment needs and interests. This Agency is committed to providing lifelong opportunities that enhance the individuality, inclusion, independence, and personal growth of individuals receiving services. I would be glad to post a link to their site if you wish. What do you think?

[Garmond]

@Lono said: 3 Health care is a service just like all other services. Sure it is generally viewed as more important than who fixes your car, but it is still just a service provided to customers for some fee. Let's not pretend that if we nationalized it that everyone would get the same sort of service. The wealthy people will still get better service than those on the government's tab. The government can't even deliver the mail effectively. And look how they are doing in the financial world. The reality is that those in government are not the best and brightest of our society and they should be left to making speeches at schools and attending fancy fund raisers. Attacking the cost of health care would help more people have access. Every time someone dies in the ER, their family thinks he Dr. did something wrong and they want to sue. Insurance for the Doc is pretty expensive these days and that cost eventually gets passed down to the customers. 55 months ago

[voliny13]

Health care is a service just like all other services. Sure it is generally viewed as more important than who fixes your car, but it is still just a service provided to customers for some fee. Let's not pretend that if we nationalized it that everyone would get the same sort of service. The wealthy people will still get better service than those on the government's tab. The government can't even deliver the mail effectively. And look how they are doing in the financial world. The reality is that those in government are not the best and brightest of our society and they should be left to making speeches at schools and attending fancy fund raisers. Attacking the cost of health care would help more people have access. Every time someone dies in the ER, their family thinks he Dr. did something wrong and they want to sue. Insurance for the Doc is pretty expensive these days and that cost eventually gets passed down to the customers.

[Banjamen]

aie said: 4 Let's think about the term "Not For Profit" for a moment. We're still talking about business here. There will be employees, overhead, expenses - this company will produce something(whether it will be human services or widgets, it is still providing something someone will pay for) - and the end result is that the company operates up to and not over the profit level, but doesn't run in the red. Now that's a difficult thing to do . . . What will be the motivation for the employees? How do you hire and keep people who are capable of running such a business? Huge salaries - mega vacation packages? My guess is you will have to find people who are dedicated to a cause . . . not a paycheck.So you ask Are there any businesses/industries that should be non-profit?" There is one company that I know of(I'm sure there are many more) that works to advance the inclusion and integration of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. The mission statement:(The entity) exists as a non-profit membership association to provide services in the community for persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Our mission is to offer individuals and their families an opportunity to achieve self determined goals. All services strive to promote choices intended to meet each person's therapeutic, residential, and employment needs and interests. This Agency is committed to providing lifelong opportunities that enhance the individuality, inclusion, independence, and personal growth of individuals receiving services. I would be glad to post a link to their site if you wish. What do you think? 55 months ago