Bush or Kerry, and why?

Bush, because he stands for something. Kerry stands for what ever the polls tell him to stand for that day.

How does that impact our business?

If you make much money at the business, and are a small business, you don't want Kerry, or your taxes will hurt much more.
Anyone over $200k per year is gonna feel it if Kerry is elected.

Mark

If Kerry is elected(Yes) the economy will improve. That will keep housing starts up, and will give us all more business.

Here in NYC, how much $$$ people spend depends on how much disposable income they have, I.E. what their portfolio's worth. And they know from history that a Republican in the White House means the market goes in the crapper.

Not to mention the underlying fear of another 9/11, as Bush keeps on poking the bear that is the radical Muslim world. I hold my breath every time I cross the bridge into the city.

Doug @ HomeWorks

I fail to see the logic in voting for Bush.

Four more of the same old sh**, or something different? Don't know what, but at least it'll be different......lol

On a side note.

Who thinks that Bush WAS wearing a radio receiver so his people could tell him how to respond to the questions at the debates?

Anyone want to bet whether or not he goes to work with Halliburton after his presidency ends? You know. So he can reap his huge deferred income from sending all those contracts their way?

A vote for Bush is a vote for fear and fear is going to keep the economy in the crapper. And fear is the only thing that will give him four more years. Why do you think his pat answer to any question is '9/11!'.

People will spend money on toys if they believe that the future will be at least as good as the present.

The evidence against this administration is overwhelming, but since it is not in 'graphic novel' format, none of the Bush supporters will read it.

Kerry people: be carefull what you ask for, you just might get it. Kerry most certainly will raise taxes which is not only bad for us as small businesses, but also bad for our would be customers. Who knows what Kerry will do in Iraq, but if he starts pulling troops, we will, IMHO, see more terrorist activity on US soil. Keep in mind, we have not been attacked since 9/11. Apparently poking the bear is keeping him pre-occupied.

-

This is a total non-sequitor. As John Lenon said, "we'd love to hear the plan". In fact, there are only a few things the president can do to affect the economy. 1. lower interest rates (temporary solution, and if you don't understand this, you are too stupid to vote) 2. lower taxes (see # 1) 3. reduce spending on worthless programs. Kerry will likely do none of these.

I got one last thing. I have many customers that make over $200,000 per year and they all seem fairly smart to me. If you think they are going to stand for financing all of Kerry's promises, you are nuts. I guarantee their tax attorney's have already figured out how to avoid paying the "tax roll back". And when Kerry doesn't get the tax revenue he thought he was going to get from the rich, guess where those taxes trickle down to? Keep in mind, too, that the Kerry's effective tax rate was only 12%.

[Edited for clarity and to add relevance to the initial question posted "Who's better for our business?"]


I took an unscientific poll of my >200k customers (ie: tabulating the lawn signs, periodical subscriptions in the den/library, literature lying out in the open) and they seem to be leaning democratic. I know that goes against conventional wisdom but then I'm in Illinois and things don't entirely follow CW here.

What much of America fails to comprehend is that we are electing not only the POTUS but all the policymakers that come with him. I factor in variables such as what will happen to the Supreme Court (chief's going to be replaced soon), the SoS, DoD, etcetera.

Personally, I am displeased with the current cabinet. Bush didn't get us into the foreign affairs and domestic/economic disasters we now have to live with. Bush blindly* following the advice of a SELECT FEW of his cabinet did. I say select few because those select few were able to keep the President's ear away from other, more rational voices in the cabinet. The past four years of activity in the white house remind me of a playground full of boys with the usual cluster of bullies at the top of the "pile-on".

What would a Kerry cabinet/congress/supreme court be like for the country? I have no clue. He hasn't been forthcoming with anything informative in this regard during his campaigning. I would be hard pressed to believe it could be worse than the state that Wash DC is in right now, though.

As for how our business will be affected by the election, I'll again have to side with Kerry's camp. The current administration is hellbent on solving our economic woes by focusing on relief for the big-money corporations: banking, pharma, defense tech, et al. The fallout of this strategy has and will continue to negatively impact the disposable income of our customers regardless of income (save the 1% of 1%) short and long-term. A Kerry administration will, in my estimation, reverse the current trends of big-money bolstering and return focus to the domestic job crisis.

Just my two cents.


* Honestly, now. The man did not have the aptitude to productively sit a corporate board (he was asked to leave because he did nothing whatsoever). How did he suddenly acquire the aptitude to fiscally run our country in a sound manner?

This message was edited by Wagz on 10/29/04 14:05 ET.

Bush or Kerry, both will have to deal with the legacy of many prior administrations. I'm in favor of Kerry simply because I think this war footing requires a remission before it escalates beyond the forum of the midle east. But over and above all of it lies the fundamental problem which actually drives all the other problems. The economy. Someone mentioned disposable income. Who will buy our services and products when the jobs that made those purchases possible are evaporating exponentially. And who's tax dollars will pay for roads, social services and new technology development when everyone works at Wal Mart part time except for a select few at the other extreme of the economic spectrum? The corporate media bombards us with advertising for luxury products, SUV's plasma TV's new homes. It's a real dicotomy. It's not in step with reality for a growing sector of the population in North America.

Our business realies on disposable income. If taxes are raised disposable income decreases which is BAD for the entire economy not just us. Don't EVER think that tax the rich works. It DOESN't and NEVER has. Look at it this way. The rich will alway have money and spend it where they want. They may have to shift strategy but will always minimize their tax burden through available loopholes.
Look at it like this. Is it better for the rich as a group to give an extras $100 billion to Uncle Sam to spend or for them to spend. The typical rich guy ($100k+), will invest in businesses which will create tax paying jobs. The government spends the money wastfully in programs that give little or no return on the assets. See the difference? Look at it this way. If you each are forced to spend $50k right now, how many of you would buy liquer, coke, hookers and other consumable stuff? VERY few. Sorry in advance for being a party killer. You probaby would invest in your business (ie: new vans, tools, showrooms) to make more money. See the difference. Once the hangover subsides and the hookers leave you have nothing left but the clap. But the van or showroom create the oportunity to further create wealth.
The choice is up to you guys. You want the rich peoples money creating new opportunity? Vote Republican - Want the money flushed? Vote for Kerry. Realize though that VERY few Presidents have EVER had an impact on the economy. I can think of 1 in my life that had a drastic mpact on the economy. REAGAN. Bush can't take credit for the sagging economy in 2002. Thanks the remnants of the stock market bubble in 2000 which triggered rapidly rising interest rates and thank 9/11. That's what hurt the economy not GW. Look at the economy in '99. Thank Y2K not Clinton. Carter could have been Pres and had the same result. As could Mickey Mouse, Me, or even TimShow or Wesley. Get it? The recession in '89 and '90. Give credit to Congress (Dems at the time) for attempting to soak the rich (Kerry's plan) by attacking the boating industry and the housing market.
You all can dismiss me at any time but these are the FACTS. Ask anyone that has the education in economics. Taxes hurt. There is nothing "VooDoo" about lowering taxes to increase economic activity. Did our plasma sales go up as prices fell? HELL YES! Is that voo doo? Dollar sales soared as prices fell. Its the same with taxes.
As for the 1 man how made a difference - Reagan. He did the opposite of 9/11. He made people feel great by promoting rugged individualism and the ability to succeed. (Opposite of fear caused by 9/11) He also lowered taxes on the rich - Tax reciepts soared - they did NOT go down.
Think this out before you vote.
Sorry for the rant but ignorance about the economy chaps my ass more than ignoranamouses at Best Buy with refilling plasmas.
Kevin