Stephen Martino

Though comical, this picture adeptly sums up the feeling that is emanating from Washington. Class warfare has begun. Not unlike that seen with the Russian revolution, class warfare has taken center stage. No longer is it taught or shown in the media that hard work is a positive thing. Instead, we are told wealth is bad, working hard only oppresses others and that too much success is too bad.

Are these the messages we want our kids exposed to? Are these the messages that will make our country continue to grow and prosper? When you watch TV, read the paper or hear anything coming out of Washington, just think of this picture and things will become much clearer.

I am not writing this blog to argue with what is called a “Living Wage” nor am I here to adamantly say no to any increase in a minimum wage. What I wish only to do is to make a point of how “good” intentions of the government never turn out good.

This point almost seems contradictory. As a Christian, I understand that increasing the minimum wage would mean more money for the employees. Altruistically, it seems fantastic. However, pragmatically, it has the potential to be counterproductive.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office came out this week and said that the plan by President Obama and fellow Democrats to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would cost roughly 500,000 jobs but increase wages for roughly 16.5 million Americans. What makes matters worse is that the CBO analysts said their estimate of employment losses was approximate. They said the actual impact could range from a very slight employment reduction to a loss of one million workers.

“While helping some, mandating higher wages has real costs, including fewer people working,” said a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. “With unemployment Americans’ top concern, our focus should be creating — not destroying — jobs for those who need them most.”

Though I agree with an increase in minimum wage, now does not seem to be the time. The Obama administration believes that increased wage would decrease the poverty level. However, an astute analysis of the numbers clearly shows that most of those under the poverty level are unemployed. Thus, by destroying more jobs, this number is bound only to rise. Simply put, it’s a totally nearsighted Obama plan with yet again far reaching negative, economic consequences.

If the government really cared about business, they would instead create economic incentives for companies that would entice them to increase their minimum wage. There could be tax brakes, savings initiatives or tax credits that would make raising employee’s both attractive and economically solvent. It is simple math. However, the government, unlike private businesses, does not understand the bottom line. They base their economic decisions on philosophy and ideology instead of hard economic truths. And now you understand why we are over 17 trillion dollars in the hole.

My fictional thriller, The Final Reality, will be released in May, 2014. It is the first book of a 3 part series that has political, ethical, medical and religious undertones that forebodes humanity’s tenuous existence in the 21st century.

Please click on the picture if you would like a free copy to review.

And the news for Obamacare keeps on getting worse. With the latest CBS poll showing a satisfaction rate of 7% for this program, businesses reducing working hours and/or employees to avoid taxes imposed by the program and sky-high Obamacare deductibles, the Affordable Care Act has become an anchor, sinking the American economy into an eventual watery grave.

To add insult to injury, the Congressional Budget Office (a nonpartisan group) came out today with the strong warning that Obamacare will reduce the American workforce by the equivalent of 2 million full-time workers in 2017. They concluded that the health law would lead some workers, particularly those with lower incomes, to limit their hours to avoid losing federal subsidies that Obamacare provides to help pay for health insurance and other healthcare costs.

For example, some Americans nearing retirement could decide to keep their work hours shorter to maintain Obamacare subsidies until they qualified for Medicare. Such a policy would thus “reduce incentives to work” and pose an “implicit tax on working” for those returning to a job with health insurance.

This policy goes against human nature. Remember, incentive is what drives us to invent, work harder and strive for greater things. Incentive is what makes businesses grow, creates jobs and expands the economy. Just like all of the current administration’s policies, Obamacare stifles the human spirit and hinders it from growing.

If you disagree with me and you are a working, taxpaying man or woman, ask yourself this question: has any Obama policy helped you? Has any Obama policy helped your business? Has any Obama policy cut your taxes? Has any Obama policy made your job easier? If the answer is no, it explains why our economy continues to stagnate and the divide between rich and poor continue to grow. Now ask yourself this: can American handle another 3 more years of this?