To your point about non-profits, I am not opposed to non-profits at all and agree that some are doing amazing work, efficiently and in-line with current best practices.

My objection comes when people assume that the *only* way to get anything done is to form a non-profit, and more often than not, it is completely unnecessary. In fact, the process of forming and governing a non-profit brings out the worst in people's organizational instincts and typically results in paralysis of vision and action.

Furthermore, there is a limit to the number of non-profit boards and orgs that people can find time to be involved with, mostly because of the drag caused by governance.

If people instead were to become comfortable accomplishing hard goals with “virtual” organizations (Baltimore Angels is one as is Barcamp, SocialDevCamp, TEDxMidAtlantic, etc) then they might be inclined to be involved in more things. If each of those had to have a full board of directors and tax filing, they would probably not exist.

That said, I am the president of the Friends of the Maryland State Archives, and that needs to be a non-profit for a variety of reasons. That's appropriate.

I just hear about people forming non-profits for no particular reason (often it's just inexperience) and it makes me cringe. So much can be done in the short life-cycles of immediate action possible on the web, we just don't have time for non-profits in a lot of cases.

But for those non-profits that are appropriate and acting intelligently, I am totally supportive.

I truly never thought aboutthe city as an entity that should be focused on. I am always just drawn to them as the highest impact change areas. Living on the east coast now they are definitely centers of leadership that ripple out to other cities and suburbia.

This is new to me since suburbia is different on the west coast and California in
particular. They are more vibrant and powerful andin some ways equal to cities. However, with the east coast as my new home I look to leaders like u for ideas and leadership.

I also completely agree that politics is not the answer. Personally, I love politics and political life but I refuse to enter that life. I would not want to burden my partner and my family with that life. Without that outlet I am forced to find other ways to make change and help out.

I too find the civic sphere lacking and most uninterested. It is shameful how many folks care about the welfare of people in other countries and ignore their neighbors. I mean there are starving dying babies in america too!

If we could all develop a healthy dose of domestic engagement, in addition to our international focus, we would all be much better off. I do feel that it is a tripartite focus on yourself (family, friends), ur community (neighbors), and ur world (outside ur borders).

With such a focus we may well solve global warming and pollution. Since both problems ask our citizens to care about their community. To understand that their actions effect 'our' air, 'our' rivers, 'our' bays, and more.

Ok so point I differ on is with non-profits. The digital transition has vastly changed the nature and responsibilities of these corporations. Online fundraising and email radicalize them. Where before huge staffs were needed to raise funds and correspond with reciepts, now 'everything' is automated and online.

All non-profits should be cutting their admin staffs and putting more money than ever to causes. Add on to that the transparency that the web allows.

Now look at any non-profit and if they are not following these changes then they are wasting precious money. They're easy to find too. Just look at their websites for this kind of change. You know how many still don't allow online donations?

Ok so maybe I'm making ur argument for u, so just one more point. As those “old-fashioned” non-profits are crumbling, new modern ones are rising. They are small lean focused and effective. I know this because I run one. It's incredibly easy to do so and offers many advantages. Even the IRS has enacted digital enhancements to make it easier.

So please don't write them off. Some of us are doing amazing things.