Dai Li directly named his training center "Coach Li's Physical Training Center", but in order to make it easier for American people to accept it, he did not use the pinyin of "LI", but the English "Lee".
Now that there is a venue, the rest of the things are much simpler. Li Dai spent some legal fees to get the registration of the physical training center completed.
Later, Dai Li made simple renovations to the venue.
This was originally a small gymnastics training hall with relatively complete facilities and sports equipment. Dai Li only had to spend a little money to simply add some new things.
Dai Li has not hired any other employees for the time being. At this stage, Dai Li only has the job of training disabled athletes, and it is free of charge. He should be doing charity. There is no profitable business yet, so Li Dai also feels that he can handle it alone, and there is no need to hire other coaches for the time being. After all, the most expensive thing in the United States is people. One less person to hire means one less cost.
Therefore, even the cleaning work of the venue was done by Li Dai himself. This was because the training center had just opened, and there were not many guests. Li Dai was relatively free. If he had nothing to do, he could mop the floor with a mop and wipe the equipment with a rag before leaving the training center. When things get back on track, Dai Li plans to find a cleaning company to take charge.
Of course, Dai Li knew nothing about finance. He directly handed over the financial affairs to the accounting firm. Small and micro businesses in the United States cannot afford to hire professional accountants, so they often hand over the company's finances to accounting firms, which are responsible for specialized financial and tax filing work.
Different from China, the main customers of domestic accounting firms are large companies and large enterprises, and they also provide large-scale accounting and auditing services. Small companies and individuals basically have no business that can be used by accounting firms. In the United States, the main service targets of accounting firms are small businesses and individuals. It is more cost-effective for large companies to hire their own accountants.
Ordinary Americans need to file their own taxes, unlike in China where personal income tax is directly deducted from wages. At the same time, the tax items and tax relief items in the United States are also very complicated. Ordinary people cannot understand them at all. If one item is missed when filing taxes, The charge of tax evasion has been brought down, so a professional accountant is needed at this time.
Many Americans, especially low-income groups, receive tax deductions or subsidies and may not have to pay taxes in the end, but the tax filing process is still necessary. So when tax filing season comes, it often happens that poor people don’t have to pay a penny in taxes, but for the tax filing process, they pay hundreds of dollars to an accountant.
Li Dai also has a clear positioning of the training hall. He will not hire other employees in the early stage and save labor costs as much as possible. Of course, he is not stingy with the money he should spend, such as the cost of finding a lawyer and the cost of accounting firms. These are all It cannot be saved. A dollar saved now may cause trouble that cannot be solved by thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in the future.
…
Coach Li's Physical Training Center just opened in obscurity. There was no opening ceremony, no ribbon cutting, and no banners or colorful flags flying. Perhaps only when residents of nearby neighborhoods pass by will they realize that the original gymnasium has been transformed into a physical training center.
On the first day of opening, there were no customers at all. This kind of professional physical training center is not a gym in the first place. Its main customers are athletes, rather than serving the general public, and the fees are much higher than ordinary gyms. This is like cheap mass consumer goods. Although many people buy them, the profits are relatively small. Luxury goods may not be sold for a long time, but the profits are much higher.
Dai Li doesn't expect that there will be a flood of customers on the first day. People who do sports training mainly rely on word of mouth, and word of mouth takes time to accumulate.
However, Dai Li was not idle. On the afternoon of the day he opened, a social worker from the Los Angeles Association for Disabled Persons found Coach Li's physical training center.
"Coach Li, this is the list of disabled athletes who need to receive training. There are twelve people in total." The social worker handed over a list.
Training 10 to 15 disabled athletes was a condition of the lease promised by Dai Li. Councilor Anthony did not take advantage of Dai Li too much. He chose a middle number of not too many and not too little, 12 people.
Dai Li took the list, looked at it carefully, and then asked: "This is just a list, there are only names on it, and I also need their detailed information. Such as age, height, weight, detailed disability, and cause of disability etc."
The social worker frowned: "These are personal privacy. Coach Li, the United States is a country that attaches great importance to protecting personal privacy."
"I know, and I also know how to protect the privacy of my clients, but if we are conducting high-level physical training, I must know this before I can formulate a training plan." Dai Li spread his hands and continued: "I will give you a very simple example. For example, if a normal person's standard weight is 150 pounds, and as a disabled person, he lacks arms or legs, then the same weight is obviously overweight, and my training plan must also include weight loss."
"Okay, I will bring their detailed information." The social worker had no choice but to compromise. He paused and then said: "But Coach Li, I just observed your physical training center, and I suggest you Add some accessibility features.”
"Why did I forget about this! Building barrier-free facilities also costs money. Based on this, we can lower the price with Anthony." Li Dai suddenly felt regretful.
However, Dai Li still kept a smile on his face, and he said: "Sorry, this was a lack of consideration on my part. This was a gymnasium before, and the gymnasts must not have mobility impairments, so there are no barrier-free facilities here."
"I kindly remind you that if you build barrier-free facilities, you can get tax benefits." The social worker smiled and continued: "The reason why barrier-free facilities in the United States are so popular is entirely due to the 1986 Tax Adjustment Act. "This bill stipulates that building barrier-free facilities can enjoy tax incentives, so companies are very keen to proactively build barrier-free facilities. Barrier-free facilities outside public places in the United States are built by business operators themselves."
Dai Li showed a teachable expression.
In China, public officials tell others that business operators take the initiative to build barrier-free facilities because they are of high quality, because they have noble moral character, and because they sincerely consider the disabled. Only now did Li Dai realize that it was so that he could pay less tax.
However, Dai Li still spoke up and praised: "The United States is really good to disadvantaged groups like disabled people. Even people in our country know that as long as a disabled person in the United States can receive 800 US dollars from the government every month."
"Who told you? I can't believe that the far East would have such a misunderstanding of the United States." The social worker widened his eyes in surprise, and then said: "The benefits of Americans with disabilities are different in each state, let alone There is a so-called fixed amount. So if I tell you that disabled people can receive a fixed amount of subsidies every month, it must be a liar! There have been similar fraud gangs in the United States before."
"How much money can an average disabled person receive?" Li Dai asked.
"The benefits that disabled people can obtain mainly rely on two projects. One is Social Security Disability Insurance. Everyone who has a job must pay social security tax. Part of this tax will be paid into the fund of Social Security Disability Insurance. Taxpayers are quite So the insured. If the party becomes disabled, he can receive money from this insurance. The specific amount is calculated based on the age and income of the insured and will not be a fixed number. If the party dies, Minor children and spouses who have not reached retirement age can also receive money from it," the social worker explained.
"That's right!" Dai Li nodded. He understood that this so-called social security disability insurance is equivalent to an upgraded version of domestic work-related injury insurance. They are all compulsory, and only those who are employed can pay for them. However, work-related injury insurance only pays out compensation if you are injured at work, while with the Social Security Disability Insurance in the United States, you can get money as long as you are disabled.
The social worker opposite continued to explain: "The second one is the federal social security subsidy, also known as SSI. Disabled people over 18 years old who have lost the ability to work can apply. If they are not disabled, people over 65 years old can apply. The elderly can also apply, and the blind can also apply. The government will investigate the financial situation and assets of the applicant. After the application is approved, the recipient will receive a monthly living subsidy based on the specific situation. In California, the social security living allowance is People assisted by the subsidy will automatically be enrolled in Medicaid.”
"Is the Medicaid program the white card that provides free medical care?" Dai Li asked immediately. He knows that this so-called free medical white card is the most touted thing among domestic intellectuals, and it is precisely because of this that some people trumpet that medical treatment in the United States does not cost money.
"Free? You can think so!" A sarcastic smile appeared on the social worker's face, and he continued: "California's Medicaid program has been abused. Now in California, there are at least 13 million people out of a population of 40 million. Receiving free low-income health insurance, this is equivalent to one in three Californians holding what you call a white card. At present, many doctors have begun to refuse patients with white cards."
"There will always be doctors willing to accept them, right? The government pays for them anyway, and the doctors don't lose money." Dai Li looked indifferent.
"The government is only willing to pay 10 US dollars. This consultation fee is a charity for doctors. At least those slightly famous specialists are not willing to accept such a 10 US dollar job. So white card holders can only go There is a queue of one or two months before you can see a doctor in a public hospital," the social worker explained.
Dai Li suddenly realized. He suddenly remembered that American doctors only treat patients. The doctor writes a prescription, and the patient goes to the pharmacy to get it; the doctor writes a test order, and the patient goes to the hospital to make an appointment for a checkup. As a doctor, he only earns his own money. Partial consultation fee. Of course, there are additional charges for surgeons performing surgeries on stage.
Doctors in the United States set their own fees for consultations. Doctors with high standards naturally set higher prices. The specific price is completely based on the market, ranging from two to three hundred US dollars, four to five hundred US dollars, and seven to eight hundred US dollars. It is absolutely impossible for a doctor at the level of a subject leader to go to a specialist clinic for 20 yuan a person.
For patients who hold a white card for medical treatment, no matter how much the doctor’s consultation fee is, the government will only bear US$10. If a patient only charges $10, American doctors would probably go bankrupt. Doctors who usually charge hundreds of dollars are naturally not willing to see patients who charge $10. Therefore, only doctors in public hospitals, with support from the government, will accept such $10 outpatient services.
However, doctors in the United States are not the kind of "supermen" who see 200 outpatient clinics a day. They are considered model workers if they see 20 patients a day, and this includes return patients. As more and more white card holders crowd into public hospitals, the waiting time for appointments will become longer and longer. Therefore, it is not a joke to wait two months for a medical appointment in public hospitals in the United States.
Thinking of this, Dai Li said in a questioning tone: "But this is free after all. I know that medical care in the United States is very expensive. I think many people are willing to wait a month or two in order to save money."
"You may have a misunderstanding of 'free'. The expenses incurred when using free medical insurance do not need to be repaid at all, but will be recorded. When the user is able to repay, the money will still be You have to repay. What I mean by being able to repay also includes after death." The social worker continued.
"You still have to pay back money after you die? Is it also popular in the United States for fathers to pay their debts to their sons?" Li Dai thought of this with a look of surprise on his face.
The social worker extended his hand: "For example, a person used free medical insurance and spent 300,000 US dollars on medical treatment. After his death, he left a property worth 500,000 US dollars. If his heirs want If you inherit this property, you must pay off the $300,000, otherwise the court will auction the property, and the money will be repaid to the government first, and the remainder will be inherited by the heirs."
"It turns out that there is still such a hand. If you think about it, only the proletarians can benefit from it. They have no money and no assets. Even after they die, there will be nothing left that can be auctioned to pay back the money." Li Dai said subconsciously.
"Free medical insurance is originally a kind of social welfare in the nature of assistance. As long as people who can afford medical insurance, who will choose this kind of medical subsidy?" The social worker paused and then said: "These people who receive assistance are all poor. , they live at the bottom of society, cannot find a job, or even have no ability to work at all, and rely on food stamps to survive. They have no choice, like humble ants, just living for the sake of living."
When the social worker said this, a very solemn expression appeared on his face, and at the same time he said slowly in a poet-like tone: "If you can live a good life, who would be willing to struggle at the bottom of society without dignity? Stay alive!"
…
Looking at the social worker's leaving figure, Dai Li felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart. He felt empty in his heart, but extremely fulfilled in his mind.
"He is right. If you can live a good life, who would be willing to struggle at the bottom of society and live without dignity!"
Dai Li couldn't help but recall that when he was in China, he heard people talking about how good the social welfare in the United States was. The government gave out free food to people, people had free medical care, etc. A few years ago, Dai Li was very happy when he heard this. Envy, but now he has another idea. As the social worker said, these social benefits, which are originally aid in nature, are intended to ensure the survival of people at the bottom of society and to enable the poor to live a humble life.
No one wants to live a humble life!
From the perspective of users, it is true that the poorer you are, the more cost-effective it is to use free medical care. If you don’t have a car or a house, you have nothing. If you come to pay for your dead debt, it is really in vain. The state spends money to treat you. . But if there is a good life, who wants to live a life of poverty and nothing
When a person begins to envy the free medical care of the disadvantaged groups in the United States, he has already placed himself in the position of the disadvantaged group. Only the poor will envy the poor who have a better life than themselves. It's like two beggars. One of them envies the other for begging in a good location and getting more alms. But fundamentally, they are both beggars!
Thinking of beggars, Li Dai couldn't help but think of domestic news reports that beggars earn tens of thousands a month. Many people envy this kind of income, but in fact, how many of those envious people are willing to be beggars? A beggar's monthly income of tens of thousands needs to be exchanged for dignity. Who is willing to easily throw his dignity to the ground and let others trample on him
"Now think about it, I used to envy the welfare of the United States. This is really the thinking of the bottom! Think about it carefully, only the bottom of society will envy the bottom of society in the United States. The bottom of society has free food, drink and free medical care. The domestic middle class lives a good life. , who would envy the poor in the United States? They would envy the middle class in the United States, who live in villas and go on vacation when they have nothing to do. As for the rich, it is the same everywhere."
Dai Li let out a long sigh. He believes that everyone who leaves their hometown and comes to the United States all the way has a dream and yearns for a better life. Everyone will strive for the future. No one comes to the United States to become the bottom of society and then rely on various Live with help. In the United States, the poor people who receive all kinds of "free" are not complacent, nor do they think they have made much profit, because the "free" they receive just reflects their failed lives.
"This kind of assistance to the vulnerable groups is prepared for those in need. This is not worthy of my envy. Life should be about creating a better life, not waiting for charity from others." Dai Li was filled with many thoughts. A kind of awakening, and a trace of clarity.
"Work hard for tomorrow!" Dai Li sighed sadly, but his morale became more and more high.