1. The U.S. Economy The issues we all face

2. A Few Issues Facing The U.S. Economy . Paying For Health Care . Health Care And The Business Community . The Automotive Industry

3. Health Care“How do we fund such a program”

4. Taxing The Rich A. Impose a surtax on couples making 350,000 and above B. Taxes on the rich will stimulate consumer spending C. This will not affect the small business community

5. Effects Of Taxing The Rich A. Will stimulate consumer spending B. Will not hurt the investment sector of the economy C. Will eventually stabalize the economy

6. Personal Reflections On The Article The author claims small businesses will not be affected when a large majority of small business owner earn 350,000. The author claims taxes being imposed on the rich will stimulate the economy with no real supporting facts. The comments in the proceeding quote is the essence of redistribution of personal wealth. “If the government were to take the revenue from a tax increase on the very rich and give it to the less well-to-do through government spending or a tax cut, then the result would be a net increase in consumer demand”

7. Health Care And The Small Business Community

8. Benefits To The Business Community A. Companies will reduce the costs of insuring the uninsured B. Employers providing reform creates a level playing field in the business sector C. The Obama plan will bring down the costs of unnessecarry procedures

9. The Reactions Of The Business Community A. Reform proposals still force small businesses to pay for the uninsured through a fund program B. Businesses who are less productive will be driven out of business C. Health car should be treated as a market where employers can do their own price negotiations

10. Personal Reflections On The Article The article states that costs will be driven down when the business owners will still be required to contribute to a federal program for health benefits. The proponents claim a level playing field will be created this destroys competition in the market economy. Good point in the article that we need to concentrate more on prevention, but chronic care would drive up spending. “A mandate would impose a crushing burden- one that would chill growth and job creation” This statement is very true.

11. Cash For Clunkers And Its Positive/Negative Benefits

12. Benefits Of The Program A. Reduces emissions through the use of more fuel efficent cars. B. Gives a boost to the ailing automotive industry in the U.S.

13. Negative Effects Of The Program A. People are trading in vehicles to gain two miles per gallon. B. Environmental emissions are increased to dispose of the old vehicles.

14. Personal Reflections On The Article I agree that the environmental benefits of the program are utterly meaningless. The program does create a jolt to the auto industry, but this can be done in more efficent ways. The American people love their SUV’s and many people are only gaining two miles per gallon as the article states. “ On the other hand the program offers a jolt to the economy”

15. Conclusion All of these issues are becoming huge obstacles to economic recovery in the United States. Health needs reform but it can be accomplished through different avenues such as Tort Reform. Requiring businesses to provide or fund health care is destructive to the private sector of the economy. In the same respect Cash For Clunkers is a perfect example of the power of the American consumer. Only the 4,500 or 3,500 cash allowance could have been created through tax cuts, enabling the American people to stableize other sectors of the economy. The market for used cars and small business in that sector has been effected. The country just needs to slow down and maybe use some common sense solutions. LINKS AND VIDEOS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdLpem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt1fYSAChxs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BWBdVicXnk

16. Works Cited Page Cohn, Jonathan, June 12, 2009, Buyer Beware, The New Republic and KHN, Retrieved August 10, 2009 From http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=e2f6a23f-64ab-4f11-9c44-efc9d6e0bbb1 Judis, John B. July 21st, 2009, Make Them Pay, The New Republic and KHN, Retrieved August 10, 2009 From http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=700da4c9-ed0f-4036-a017-ce2cc0667a78 Plumer, Bradford, July 31st, 2009, Cash For Clunkers Goes Haywire, The Vine, Retrieved August 10, 2009 From http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/environmentandenergy/archive/2009/07/31/cash-for-clunkers-goes-haywire.aspx