Decade by Decade

Among my extended family and friends, there are many more people who work in non-profit organizations than in the private sector. They generally earn less than they could in the private sector, given their educational and skill levels, but they feel much more satisfied about their work lives than others because they feel they are making a difference.

During this pandemic, many also are losing their jobs. NGOs by their nature usually have far less resources than the mega-corporations that rule our economy like the feudal lords of yesteryear. They rely on donations from individuals and foundations that are now hurting financially themselves. Thus the non-profits may not have the reserves to weather this storm.

The tragedy when NGOs start failing goes beyond the economic impacts and job losses. They may only constitute about 5 percent of our GNP, but the non-profit sector accounts for 95 percent of the socially conscious GNP.

There are minuscule efforts by the Fortune 500 to contribute to social justice and environmental causes, given their vast financial empires. They make a lot of noise abut how much good they are doing, but it is the NGO sector that stands between the rest of us and an unfettered capitalism that would destroy the planet simply to beat analyst expectations quarter-by-quarter.

The non-profit groups set expectations decade-by-decade.

***

Our overnight summary of the news cycle contains many disturbing reports:

* The afore-mentioned non-profit sector is in trouble. According to the Times, "Even as the economic crisis creates new demand for their services, organizations with millions of workers are resorting to layoffs as revenues dry up."

* Apparently bowing to Trump's pressure, the CDC is calling for schools to re-open regardless of the risks to students, teachers and -- by extension -- the rest of us.

* As part of its hate campaign against minorities, the Trump administration is pushing forward with plans to roll back transgender rights and protections.

* The dangerous use of federal troops in American cities continues under the Trump administration's blatantly political "law and order" campaign. Besides Portland, Seattle is now a target.

* Trump administration has put DACA applications ‘on hold’ -- The Post.

* The Sinclair Broadcast Group is airing a nationwide program on a conspiracy theory that Dr. Fauci may have created the coronavirus strain that causes Covid-19.

Those developments are certainly enough to ruin anyone's breakfast, so the remainder of this essay will wander off in a different direction.

***

Part Two of our Welcome Guide to the Newly Elderly is a guide to the politically correct vocabulary to use around aged people. Today, we present the words and phrases that are best avoided.

* It's to die for.
* You're killing it.
* You're killing me.
* One foot in the grave.
* 'Til death do us part.
* Death warmed over.
* A stiff.
* Dead man walking.
* Pushing up daisies.
* DOA.
* Skin and bones.
* RIP.
* Heavenly peace.
* Paradise.
* Happy hunting grounds.
* Zion.
* Promised land.
* Afterlife.
* Hell.
* Purgatory.
* Corpse.
* Sunset.
* The end.

Okay, there are many more, but you get the idea. Our language is thick with references to death and dying. As you enter the realm of the newly elderly, it's best to avoid such references unless you wish to walk the high wire between outrageously funny and falling off (in which case, you're most definitely history).

The End.

-30-