"Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life."
Northrup Christiane
I have been asked several times about the underlying purpose of Inviting Conversations. I have posted several questions designed to elicit dialog among thoughtful people. I have received wonderful responses. Yes, part of Inviting Conversations is to start discussions.
Another part of Inviting Conversations is based upon the book Conversations, which I published in 1999. We live in a fast-paced world. The eight-hour work day is long gone for most business professionals. The sit-down dinner meal is a thing of the past. Reality also states that much of our communication is done via phone, fax, email or social media sites. I am not making a judgment statement on any of this. I am simply stating reality. What’s lost then is deep, important conversation. Sometimes it is conversation with someone with whom one hasn’t spoken in years. Sometimes it is conversation with someone who we see every single day.
As many of you have the opportunity to take some time off from your professional obligations to celebrate Thanksgiving, seek out people who mean “the world” to you. Talk with them. If you can, make it a face-to-face conversation. If you can’t, use the phone. Let people you love hear your voice. If something truly wonderful comes out of it, and you are willing to share, send me the story. I am collecting stories to share through Inviting Conversations. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Wade
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Domestic Violence -- Crime and Punishment?
Inviting Conversation for November 17, 2009
The numbers are nauseating. According to the weeklong series in The Columbus Dispatch: ONE in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. More than 85 percent of victims are women. AT LEAST 1.3 million women were abused in America last year. MOST cases never are reported to police. POLICE in Ohio handled more than 75,000 domestic violence incidents last year. SEVENTY-ONE Ohioans died last year at the hands of a spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or family member (http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/special_reports/stories/2009/domestic/index.html).
As I read the series, I find myself having great difficulty getting my hands around it. I would suspect my grandfather’s words, “No real man ever lays a hostile hand on a woman” ring in my ear. Before writing this blog, I bounced this subject off of several people. The response was overwhelming. I was told that the perps have a mental illness. Victim’s stories of helplessness were relayed to me. I was told how frustrated law enforcement becomes when they attempt to bring the perp to justice, but the victim is unable to, for whatever reason, follow through in helping the prosecutors. There are stories where it seems it is clear to everyone with eyes and a mind that the perp is an abuser. The stories go on and on. I have even been told that the abuser is a victim as well, often coming from “bad” situations and can’t “control” himself or herself.
Here are the questions: What should and can be done to the abusers? What should and can be done for the victims? Should any consideration be made for the history and mental capabilities of the abuser? What can be done to solve this disgrace to our Society?
The numbers are nauseating. According to the weeklong series in The Columbus Dispatch: ONE in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. More than 85 percent of victims are women. AT LEAST 1.3 million women were abused in America last year. MOST cases never are reported to police. POLICE in Ohio handled more than 75,000 domestic violence incidents last year. SEVENTY-ONE Ohioans died last year at the hands of a spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or family member (http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/special_reports/stories/2009/domestic/index.html).
As I read the series, I find myself having great difficulty getting my hands around it. I would suspect my grandfather’s words, “No real man ever lays a hostile hand on a woman” ring in my ear. Before writing this blog, I bounced this subject off of several people. The response was overwhelming. I was told that the perps have a mental illness. Victim’s stories of helplessness were relayed to me. I was told how frustrated law enforcement becomes when they attempt to bring the perp to justice, but the victim is unable to, for whatever reason, follow through in helping the prosecutors. There are stories where it seems it is clear to everyone with eyes and a mind that the perp is an abuser. The stories go on and on. I have even been told that the abuser is a victim as well, often coming from “bad” situations and can’t “control” himself or herself.
Here are the questions: What should and can be done to the abusers? What should and can be done for the victims? Should any consideration be made for the history and mental capabilities of the abuser? What can be done to solve this disgrace to our Society?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Why Can't We Put Politics Aside for the Betterment of Society?
Inviting Conversation for Nov 10th
Washington (CNN) -- Narrow passage of a sweeping health care bill by the House of Representatives portends a continuing difficult fight for President Obama and fellow Democrats to get a bill through the Senate and into law.
The House voted 220-215 late Saturday, with 39 Democrats opposed and one Republican in favor, to approve what would be the biggest expansion of health care coverage since Medicare was created more than 40 years ago.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act, or H.R. 3962, restricts insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone with a pre-existing condition or charging higher premiums based on gender or medical history. It also provides federal subsidies to those who cannot afford it. And it guarantees coverage for 96 percent of Americans, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office…
Just part of the article.
Website :http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/09/health.care/index.html
Last week the discussion focused around “mandates.” Thank you to the people who responded. This week’s discussion focuses on consensus and cooperation. I am not taking sides here on the health care issue. We can all agree that health care issues, including access and costs, are serious concerns both immediately and in the long term. BUT…
Why can't Democrats and Republicans team together to set up a health care plan that would be workable? Of course the definition of workable is debatable and hard to come to a middle ground that satisfies anybody. I have already read that it is "dead in the water" in the Senate. So we are presenting something from one House to another that has no chance?
With the adoption of a bill like this, would the exclusion of the pre-existing condition make health care cost skyrocket for both business and individuals to the point nobody could afford it?
I am not naïve enough to believe that there is one “right” solution which will make everyone happy and won’t have its hiccups. But what will it take for our elected officials to put politics aside and create something as a starting point? Before building the house, one needs to build a foundation. Is this so hard?
Washington (CNN) -- Narrow passage of a sweeping health care bill by the House of Representatives portends a continuing difficult fight for President Obama and fellow Democrats to get a bill through the Senate and into law.
The House voted 220-215 late Saturday, with 39 Democrats opposed and one Republican in favor, to approve what would be the biggest expansion of health care coverage since Medicare was created more than 40 years ago.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act, or H.R. 3962, restricts insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone with a pre-existing condition or charging higher premiums based on gender or medical history. It also provides federal subsidies to those who cannot afford it. And it guarantees coverage for 96 percent of Americans, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office…
Just part of the article.
Website :http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/09/health.care/index.html
Last week the discussion focused around “mandates.” Thank you to the people who responded. This week’s discussion focuses on consensus and cooperation. I am not taking sides here on the health care issue. We can all agree that health care issues, including access and costs, are serious concerns both immediately and in the long term. BUT…
Why can't Democrats and Republicans team together to set up a health care plan that would be workable? Of course the definition of workable is debatable and hard to come to a middle ground that satisfies anybody. I have already read that it is "dead in the water" in the Senate. So we are presenting something from one House to another that has no chance?
With the adoption of a bill like this, would the exclusion of the pre-existing condition make health care cost skyrocket for both business and individuals to the point nobody could afford it?
I am not naïve enough to believe that there is one “right” solution which will make everyone happy and won’t have its hiccups. But what will it take for our elected officials to put politics aside and create something as a starting point? Before building the house, one needs to build a foundation. Is this so hard?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
What should be mandated for our Society and who should pay for them?
Should healthcare be mandated? That question is being bandied around in political circles, social venues and in corporate strategy sessions. There are other “societal” mandates. Children must attend school. Many public employees must have mandated screenings, such as for tuberculosis, before working. In Ohio, drivers are mandated to carry insurance. Sometimes I get the words mandated and required confused. Are immunizations mandated or are they required for children to enter public schools? Is a marriage license mandated or required in order to get state benefits? On that note, should a license be mandated, or required, for people to be parents? Should it require a certificate with additional training, as required for a school teacher?
Lots of thoughts and questions arise. The debate over mandates often leads to the cost and who should pay. Children are mandated to go to school but must rely on property value levies for operating capital. Doesn’t seem to make sense. According to the Serenity Insurance web site, “People have choices when it comes to car insurance. If they don’t want to pay for it, they don’t have to drive. The health insurance mandate, however, does not offer such choices” (http://www.serenitygroup.com/health-insurance-mandate/). But the health care “mandate,” if it comes into being, will allow people to receive coverage even if they can’t afford it. Even today we have the “medical card” for those who need assistance. But if a person can’t afford car insurance, there is no “auto card” to help him or her keep a car insured so he or she can get a job. And think, since a child is mandated to go to school, and can’t afford lunch, the schools provide free or reduced lunches for these students. Some schools even provide breakfast. I applaud this.
Here are my questions: What things should be mandated in our society? And for these things, should there be public backing for those who simply can’t afford them?
Lots of thoughts and questions arise. The debate over mandates often leads to the cost and who should pay. Children are mandated to go to school but must rely on property value levies for operating capital. Doesn’t seem to make sense. According to the Serenity Insurance web site, “People have choices when it comes to car insurance. If they don’t want to pay for it, they don’t have to drive. The health insurance mandate, however, does not offer such choices” (http://www.serenitygroup.com/health-insurance-mandate/). But the health care “mandate,” if it comes into being, will allow people to receive coverage even if they can’t afford it. Even today we have the “medical card” for those who need assistance. But if a person can’t afford car insurance, there is no “auto card” to help him or her keep a car insured so he or she can get a job. And think, since a child is mandated to go to school, and can’t afford lunch, the schools provide free or reduced lunches for these students. Some schools even provide breakfast. I applaud this.
Here are my questions: What things should be mandated in our society? And for these things, should there be public backing for those who simply can’t afford them?
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