Host Neal Asbury opened his nationally syndicated “Neal Asbury’s Made in America” show on Radio America (now on 72 stations) with the astounding news that President Obama characterized climate change as the biggest security threat to the country. Neal suggested that it’s a lack of good paying jobs that is the biggest security threat to America.
“The President’s remarks are another part of the ideology of the lunatic left,” remarked Neal.
The first guest on Made in America was Pennsylvania Congressman, Mike Kelly, who is angry over the lack of leadership from the White House.
“There’s an old saying that it’s OK to quit, but if you’re going to quit, don’t stay on the job. Obama has abdicated his responsibility as CEO of the world’s greatest country. In addition to a lack of jobs, the diminishing of the nation’s reputation around the world is the ultimate security threat,” suggested Congressman Kelly.
In an editorial, Kelly questioned the rationale for spreading the depreciation of a restaurant over 39 years, which diminishes any incentive for restaurant owners to reinvest in refurbishing their establishment. He wants to see a restaurant being able to spread depreciation over 15 years instead, which will allow restaurants to upgrade their establishments, which could lead to more hiring of craftsmen.
Neal reminded listeners that restaurants employ some 14 million workers, which accounts for a large percentage of American jobs.
Dr. Rich Roffman, co-host, noted that in 2011, restaurants spent $6 billion on new construction, and hired 172,000 workers.
Congressman Kelly thinks that the 15 year depreciation bill enjoys bipartisan support but many members of Congress aren’t up to speed about the industry and tax ramifications. He has been able to institute a temporary 15-year depreciation bill, but wants to see it become permanent.
“This country will be at risk for the next 18 months until we have a new leader,” concluded Congressman Kelly.
Neal and Dr. Roffman segued to a discussion about the pending Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which will create trade benefits for 11 countries, especially for the U.S.
“People don’t appreciate what TPP and other free trade agreements mean to the U.S. economy. For example, since free trade agreements were negotiated exports have increased by 415% with Chile; 111% in Canada; 378% with Mexico; 90% with Australia; 84% with Singapore; 74% with Central America; 61% with Peru; 42% with Colombia; and 26% with Panama,” revealed Neal.
Dr. Roffman suggested that many people have no idea the importance of TPP. In fact, a recent poll found that many Americans think TPP has something to do with toilet paper!
The discussion turned to the disquieting fact that more jobs have been created in “Red states” than in “Blue states.”
“It’s easy to see why. Red states have lower taxes; instituted a right to work approach; and have reduced business regulations,” explained Dr. Roffman.
Neal added that Red states also have created more good paying energy-related jobs.
Made in America welcomed first-time guest, Robert King, the healthcare correspondent for the Washington Examiner, whose recent piece noted that Obamacare will add more than $270 billion in overhead costs for insurers and the federal government over the next seven years.
Quoting from a study that appeared in a blog for the journal Health Affairs, King reported that nearly two-thirds of the new overhead, $172.2 billion, goes to increased private insurer’s administrative costs due to rising enrollment. The rest go to expanded government programs such as Medicaid.
“One of the problems with Obamacare is that higher salaried, younger workers aren’t paying into the program, which leaves the shortfall to lower income workers, who must rely on government subsidies,” noted King.
King predicted that the Supreme Court fight over state subsidies will be heated, but thinks ultimately that the Obamacare subsidies won’t be overturned. It will hinge on whether it was legal for 36 states to get government subsidies, and whether the administration overstepped their boundaries when it came to employer mandates.
The final guest on Made in America was return guest Trey Kovacs, a Policy Analyst at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who detailed how many state and local wage laws exempt union contracts from the new, higher wage standard. These exemptions strictly serve union self-interest by making non-union labor more expensive, thereby making union labor more competitive.
“The minimum wage moves by unions such as SEIU, are in that unions’ self-interest. That is the primary motivation for their support of wage hikes, not altruism or concern for the well-being of low-wage workers. In Los Angeles, where the $15 hourly wage was approved, city council members received $200,000 in union donations, and both UC Berkley and UCLA received more than $100,000 in union money to conduct “research” that reinforced union contentions that raising the minimum wage had many benefits,” proposed Kovacs.
In his recurring report on the impact that robots are having in replacing human workers, Dr. Roffman related that a Chinese robot introduced at a trade show in Asia featured is able to cook meals.
“Remember how Elizabeth Warren trumpeted her grass roots upbringing? Well, it turns out that she was paid $200,000 in legal fees from Travelers Insurance to shield the insurance company from multi-million dollar payouts to patients who were sickened or died from asbestos exposure. She also made some tidy sums flipping foreclosed homes. Sounds like she was making money on the misfortunes of others,” suggested Dr. Roffman.
Finally, Dr. Roffman was puzzled by the City of Baltimore’s call for more money for jobs training and education, when it already received $1.8 billion in stimulus money.
“Instead they burned down the CVS that gave people healthcare access while creating jobs,” concluded Dr. Roffman.
Each week Neal Asbury’ 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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