Neal Asbury opened his nationally syndicated “Neal Asbury’s Made in America” show on Radio America (now on 45 stations) by comparing the current political environment to the old Twilight Zone TV show.
“It’s just bizarre. We’re finding out that despite the fallout over the IRS targeting organizations the Obama administration doesn’t like, that this practice not only continues, but has been expanded to conservative groups and others that the administration doesn’t like,” noted Neal.
Continuing the discussion on a breakdown in governance in the current White House, Made in America welcomed Christopher Horner from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who proposed that while the Obama administration bragged about their transparency, they have been just the opposite.
“In addition to destroying hard drives, deleting emails and other attempts to hide sensitive communication, through the Freedom of Information Act, I have uncovered the widespread use of fake email accounts used by EPA officials,” revealed Horner.
He has uncovered two dozen phony email accounts used by EPA officials to communicate with environmental activists so that they could fly under the radar. EPA administrator Lisa Jackson was using an email account under the name Richard Windsor, so she could share information without public scrutiny.
“There is a lot more to uncover. It is obvious that this was an attempt to hide her identity. If you don’t identify yourself, you can’t be tracked and traced back to you. That’s what Lisa Jackson was doing, and it is illegal,” concluded Horner.
Neal and co-host Dr. Rich Roffman segued to a discussion about America’s saber rattling over Syria.
“Instead of resorting to cruise missiles and killing people, America should be using trade as the core of their diplomatic efforts. History has shown us that when nations trade with one another and ongoing communications takes place, they don’t go to war. Trade is the greatest form of diplomacy,” contended Neal.
He recalled that one of the catalysts for changing China’s culture and commerce was that South China regularly received news coverage about Hong Kong, which started a groundswell of consumers wanting this lifestyle. It became a powerful message about the benefits of economic freedom.
Dr. Roffman added that this same yearning for economic freedom contributed to the collapse of the Berlin Wall, as East Germans grew tired of shoddy products and knew that the West offered superior quality and choices.
“Once people get a taste for a better life, there is no turning back. Free trade makes that happen and shows people that there is a better way,” said Dr. Roffman.
Neal suggested that American entrepreneurs are our most effective ambassadors. When other nations see the enthusiasm exhibited by Americans, they change hearts, souls and minds of people. They see a better future and it becomes a weapon for change instead of needing to use real weapons to settle differences.
Returning to Made in America was Alex Pollock, a resident fellow of the American Enterprise Institute, who testified before a House committee contending that the Federal Reserve is just as inept about predicting the future as anyone else.
“When the Federal Reserve was established in 1913, its main function was to create federal banks that could issue elastic currency when the boom and bust cycle impacted the economy. This was important since America was an agricultural country that was impacted by growing conditions. When times were bad, it could help prevent a panic,” noted Pollock.
However, Pollock warned that the Federal Reserve was never supposed to run the entire economy. Now that they do, they need to balance a $ 3 trillion balance sheet while predicting the pressures that could sink the economy. Yet, with all the information at their disposal, they completely missed the latest recession and housing bust.
“People think that the Fed has a grasp of the economy – they don’t. Their charter to manage elastic currency has created more elasticity than people want,” concluded Pollock.
The final guest on Made in America was returning guest David Bego, President and CEO of EMS, an industry leader in the field of environmental workplace, whose book “Devil at my Doorstep” chronicled his contentious battle with the SEIU over unionization.
“People have to understand how unions operate. Now even union members are finding that their leaders have led them down the drain. They convinced members to support Obamacare and now they are finding it’s costing them money and reduced work hours. Union leaders are only interested in collecting more union dues so that can make more money and live a cozy lifestyle,” said Bego,
Bego contended that in 2008, former SEIU president Andy Stern met with Obama and offered his union’s support if he passed Obamacare. While many rank and file members are seeing the underside of Obamacare, the SEIU is seeing a silver lining.
“People don’t understand that one-half of the SEIU’s members are healthcare workers. So Obamacare will create thousands of new healthcare jobs, along with new dues. Now the administration is hiring nurses as ambassadors to explain Obamacare. The SEIU prospers and everyone else will suffer,” noted Bego.
Dr. Roffman noted Obama is currently meeting with unions. His belief is that the unions, which supported Obamacare, are trying to negotiate exemptions so that their members can opt out of it.
Neal and co-host Dr. Rich Roffman concluded the show by returning to the topic of cronyism and its impact on enriching friends of the White House.
Dr. Roffman suggested that if you think the mainstream media are the lap dogs of the Obama administration, look no further than the flurry of reporters and editors that have been given key positions in the State Department.
“Since 2009 at least 15 journalists perceived as friends of the White House were given high paying administration jobs. This included key editors from The New York Times, Boston Globe and other major media outlets. The most recent was an Undersecretary of State job bestowed upon Richard Stengel, managing editor of Time magazine,” said Dr. Roffman, who added that the media bias toward supporting Obama was obvious during the last election when Romney was blasted for his remarks about Benghazi, while the State Department received a pass.
“This is cronyism at its best,” concluded Dr. Roffman.
Each week Neal Asbury’s Made in America provides Neal’s insights into the week’s top news stories and their impact on the worlds of entrepreneurship, small business ownership and the overall economy. Neal’s analysis, together with co-host Dr. Richard Roffman, a veteran 30-year publisher with extensive domestic and international experience, takes a non-biased approach based on real life experience in business as an American manufacturer and exporter. Made in America airs nationally each Saturday from 7-8:00 PM on Radio America. Link to Made in America at http://www.nealasburysmadeinamerica.com.
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