Almighty Coach

Dai Li directly named his training center "Coach Li Physical Training Center", but in order to make it easier for the American people to accept, he did not use the pinyin "LI", but the English "Lee".

Now that there is a venue, the rest of the matter is much easier. Dai Li settled the registration of the physical training center after spending some legal fees.

Later, Dai Li carried out simple renovations on the venue.

This was originally a small gymnastics training hall with relatively complete facilities and sports equipment. Dai Li only needed to spend a little money to buy some new things.

Dai Li has not hired other employees for the time being. At this stage, Dai Li only has one job of training disabled athletes, and it's free of charge, so he is doing charity. There is no profit-making business yet, so Dai Li also feels that he can handle it by himself, 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, and hiring one less person can reduce the cost.

Therefore, even the cleaning work of the venue, Li Dai did it himself. The training center has just opened, and there are not many guests. Li Dai is relatively free. If there is nothing to do, he can mop the floor with a mop, wipe the equipment with a rag, and leave the training center later. When things were on track, Dai Li planned to find a cleaning company to take charge.

Of course, Li Dai knew nothing about finances, so he directly handed over the financial affairs to the accounting firm. Small and micro enterprises in the United States cannot afford professional accountants, so they often hand over the company's finances to accounting firms, which are responsible for specialized financial and tax reporting work.

Different from domestic accounting firms, the main clients of accounting firms in China are large companies and enterprises, and they also provide some large-scale accounting and auditing services. Small companies and individuals basically have no business to use in accounting firms. In the United States, the main service targets of accounting firms are small businesses and individuals, and it is more cost-effective for large companies to hire accountants themselves.

Ordinary Americans need to file their own taxes, unlike domestic income tax deducted directly from their wages. At the same time, the tax items and tax relief items in the United States are also very complicated. Ordinary people don’t understand it at all. The crime of tax evasion fell down, so professional accountants are needed at this time.

Many Americans, especially low-income groups, have tax relief or subsidies, and may not have to pay taxes in the end, but the process of filing taxes is still necessary. So when it comes to tax filing season, it often happens that poor people don’t have to pay a penny of tax, but for the tax filing process, they pay accountants hundreds of dollars.

Li Dai also has a clear positioning for the training center. 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 that should be spent, such as the cost of finding a lawyer and the cost of an accounting firm. It cannot be saved. Saving one dollar of this kind of money now may cause troubles 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 colorful flags fluttering around. Perhaps only when the residents of the nearby blocks pass by will they realize that the original gymnasium has become 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. 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 didn't expect to have customers flocking to him on the first day. People who do sports training mainly rely on word of mouth, and word of mouth just takes time to accumulate.

However, Dai Li was not idle either. On the afternoon of his opening day, a social worker from the Los Angeles Disabled Persons Association found Coach Li's Physical Training Center.

"Coach Li, this is the list of disabled athletes who need training. There are twelve people in total." The social worker handed over a list.

Training 10 to 15 disabled athletes is the rental condition promised by Li Dai, and that Congressman Anthony didn't take advantage of Li Dai too much. He chose a middle number, 12, for the number of people.

Dai Li took the list, looked at it carefully, and then asked: "This is just a list, and there are only names on it, and I still need their detailed information. For example, age, height, weight, detailed disability, and cause of disability etc."

The social worker frowned: "These are all personal privacy. Coach Li, the United States is a country that attaches great importance to the protection of personal privacy."

"I know, and I also know how to protect the privacy of clients, but if I want to conduct high-level physical training, I must know this before I can make a training plan." Dai Li spread his hands, and then said: "Let me give you a very simple one. For example, if a normal person's standard weight is 150 pounds, as a disabled person, he is missing an arm or a leg, then the same weight is obviously overweight, and my training plan must also include weight loss."

"Okay, I'll 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, I suggest you Add some accessibility features.”

"Why did I forget about this! It costs money to build barrier-free facilities. Based on this alone, we can lower the price with Anthony." Dai Li suddenly felt a sense of regret.

However, Dai Li still kept a smile on his face. He said, "Sorry, I didn't think carefully. This was a gymnastics gym before, and gymnasts definitely have no mobility barriers, 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 then said: "The reason why barrier-free facilities are so popular in the United States is entirely due to the 1986 Tax Adjustment Act. ", this bill stipulates that the construction of barrier-free facilities can enjoy tax incentives, so companies are very keen to actively build barrier-free facilities, and 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 intellectuals tell others that business operators take the initiative to build barrier-free facilities because they are of high quality, because they are of high moral character, and because they really care about the disabled. Only now did Li Dai know that it was for the purpose of paying less taxes.

However, Li Dai still praised: "The United States is really good to vulnerable groups like the disabled. Even people in our country know that as long as they are disabled in the United States, they can receive 800 US dollars from the government every month."

"Who told you? I can't imagine that the far east will have such a misunderstanding of the United States." The social worker's eyes widened in surprise, and then said: "The welfare of the disabled in the United States is different from state to state, and it is even more impossible. There is a so-called fixed amount. So telling you that the disabled can receive a fixed amount of subsidies every month, it must be a liar! There have been similar fraudulent gangs in the United States before."

"How much can ordinary disabled people receive?" Dai Li asked.

"The benefits that people with disabilities can obtain mainly rely on two items. One is social security disability insurance. Everyone who has a job has to pay a social security tax. Part of this tax will be used as a fund for social security disability insurance. Taxpayers are quite So the insured. If the person becomes disabled, he can receive money from this insurance. The specific amount is calculated according to the age and income of the insured, and will not be a fixed number. If the person dies, Minor children and spouses who have not reached the 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 mandatory, and only those who have a job can pay, but the work-related injury insurance only pays for injuries at work, and the social security disability insurance in the United States, as long as you are disabled, you can get money.

The social worker on the opposite side continued to explain: "The second is the federal social security subsidy, also known as SSI, which can be applied for by disabled people who are over 18 years old and have lost the ability to work. If they are not disabled, those who are over 65 years old can apply. The elderly can also apply, and the blind can also apply. The government will investigate the economic situation and assets of the applicants. After the application is approved, the recipients will receive living allowances on a monthly basis according to the specific circumstances. In California, they are subject to social security. People on the grant will automatically be enrolled in Medicaid."

"Is the Medicaid plan the Medicaid that provides free medical treatment?" Dai Li asked immediately. He knows that this so-called free medical white card is the most touted thing by domestic public figures, and it is precisely because of this that some people publicize that medical treatment in the United States does not cost money.

"Free? You can think so!" A mocking smile appeared on the social worker's face, and he continued: "California's Medicaid program has been abused. In California, there are at least 13 million people out of 40 million people. Received low-income free health insurance, which is equivalent to one in three Californians holding the Medicaid card you mentioned. At present, many doctors have begun to refuse patients with Medicaid cards.”

"There will always be doctors who are willing to take them in, right? Anyway, the government pays for them, and the doctors don't lose money." Dai Li looked indifferent.

"The government is only willing to pay $10, which is charity for doctors. At least those well-known specialists are not willing to accept this $10 work. So white card holders can only go to Public hospitals wait for a month or two before seeing a doctor." The social worker explained.

Dai Li suddenly realized. He suddenly remembered that American doctors only care about seeing patients. The doctor writes a prescription, and the patient goes to the pharmacy to get it; the doctor writes a checklist, and the patient goes to the hospital to make an appointment; Partial consultation fee. Of course, there is an additional fee for the surgeon to perform the operation on stage.

Doctors in the United States set their own prices for consultation fees. High-level doctors naturally set higher prices. The specific prices are completely determined by the market. It is absolutely impossible for a doctor at the level of a academic leader to go to an expert clinic for 20 yuan each.

For patients with Medicaid medical treatment, no matter how much the doctor's consultation fee is, the government will only pay 10 US dollars. If a patient only charged $10, American doctors would have gone bankrupt long ago. Those doctors who usually charge hundreds of dollars are naturally unwilling to see patients who pay 10 dollars. Therefore, only doctors in public hospitals, with the backing of the government, will accept this $10 outpatient service.

However, doctors in the United States are not the kind of "superman" who sees 200 outpatients a day. If they see 20 patients a day, they are regarded as model workers, and they have to count the return patients. When more and more Medicare card holders are crowding into public hospitals, the waiting time for appointments will become longer and longer. Therefore, it is not a joke to wait two months for appointments in public hospitals in the United States.

Thinking of this, Dai Li said in a questioning tone, "But it's free after all. I know that medical care in the United States is very expensive. I think many people are willing to wait for a month or two to save money."

"You may have a wrong understanding of 'free'. The cost of using free medical insurance is not completely repaid, but will be recorded. When the user has the ability to repay, the money will still be paid. You have to pay it back. What I mean by being able to pay it back also includes after the person dies." The social worker went on to introduce.

"Is it necessary to pay back the money after death? Is it also popular in the United States to pay off the father's debt?" Dai Li was surprised when he thought of this.

The social worker extended his hand: "For example, a person who used free medical insurance to see a doctor spent 300,000 U.S. dollars, and after he died, he left a property worth 500,000 U.S. dollars. If his heirs want If you inherit this property, you must pay back the three hundred thousand dollars, otherwise, the court will auction the property, and the money you get will be repaid to the government first, and the rest will be inherited by the heirs."

"It turns out that there is still such a hand, so in this way, only the proletarians can benefit from it. They have no money or assets. Even after they die, there is nothing left that can be auctioned to pay back the money." Dai Li said subconsciously.

"Free medical insurance is originally a kind of social welfare in the nature of assistance, but whoever can afford medical insurance, who would choose this kind of medical subsidy?" The social worker paused, and then said: "These people who receive assistance are all poor people. , They live at the bottom of society, can’t find a job, or even have no ability to work at all, relying on food stamps to survive. They have no choice but to live, like humble ants, just to live.”

When the social worker said this, a very solemn expression appeared on his face, and at the same time he said slowly in a poetic tone: "If you can live a good life, who would be willing to struggle at the bottom of society, without dignity?" Live!"

...

Looking at the back of the social worker leaving, Dai Li felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart. He felt empty in his heart, but extremely fulfilled in his mind.

"He's right. If they can live a good life, who would want to struggle at the bottom of society and live without dignity!"

Dai Li couldn't help recalling that when he was in China, he heard people talking about how good the social welfare in the United States was. The government distributed food to people for free, and the common people had free medical care. Envious, but now he has another idea. As the social worker said, these social benefits are originally of a rescue nature, and the purpose is to ensure the survival of the bottom of the society and to allow the poor to live in a humble way.

No one wants to live in humility!

From the user's point of view, it is true that the poorer the people, the more cost-effective it is to use free medical care. If you have no car, no house, and nothing, it's really useless to use it. The state spends money to see a doctor for you. . But if there is a good life, who wants to live a life of poverty and nothing?

When a person starts to envy the free medical care of the disadvantaged groups in the United States, he has already put himself in the position of the disadvantaged groups. Only the poor will envy the poor who live better than themselves. It's like two beggars, one of them is envious of the other's begging location and can get more alms, but fundamentally, they are both beggars!

Thinking of beggars, Dai Li couldn't help thinking of domestic news reports that beggars earn tens of thousands of dollars 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 with dignity. Who is willing to easily throw their dignity on the ground and let others trample on it?

"Thinking about it now, I used to envy the welfare of the United States. This is really the thinking of the bottom! Thinking about it carefully, only the bottom of the society will envy the bottom of the society in the United States. They have free food, drink and free medical care. The domestic middle class lives well. , who would envy the poor in the United States? They would envy the middle class in the United States, living in villas, and going out for a vacation when they have nothing to do. As for the rich, it’s the same everywhere.”

Dai Li heaved a long sigh. He believes that everyone who left their hometowns and came to the United States from thousands of miles away has dreams and yearns for a better life. Everyone will fight for the future. No one comes to the United States to become the bottom of society and rely on various live with this kind of help. In the United States, those poor people who get all kinds of "free" are not complacent, nor do they make much money, because the "free" they get just reflects their failed lives.

"This kind of assistance to the disadvantaged is for those in need, and I am not envious of it. Life should be to create a better life, not to wait for others' charity." Dai Li felt a lot in his heart There was a kind of awakening, and a trace of clarity.

"For tomorrow, work hard!" Dai Li sighed a little sadly, but his fighting spirit was even more high in his heart.