Comments on: The economic advisers http://www.onpointradio.org/2008/10/the-economic-advisers On Point is a live, two-hour morning news-analysis program, produced by WBUR 90.9 and NPR. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:55:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Brian http://www.onpointradio.org/2008/10/the-economic-advisers/comment-page-1#comment-4141 Brian Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:48:07 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=12609#comment-4141 In regards to the McCain plan to have people go out to buy their own healthcare plans... I do not have the time to shop for a long distance plan, let alone a healthcare plan. I think the Medicare restructuring has show how incredibly complicated choosing your own plan can be. In regards to the McCain plan to have people go out to buy their own healthcare plans…

I do not have the time to shop for a long distance plan, let alone a healthcare plan. I think the Medicare restructuring has show how incredibly complicated choosing your own plan can be.

]]> By: Mireille Lang http://www.onpointradio.org/2008/10/the-economic-advisers/comment-page-1#comment-4140 Mireille Lang Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:47:07 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=12609#comment-4140 I would like to know why a real substantial raise of the minimum wage has not been a strong bargaining tool for the bail out and is still not talked about as a way to help "main street". It is clear to me that such a raise would help everybody. My second point is that the common republican wisdom is that you have to cut taxes on small businesses because they create jobs and are a vital part of the economy. But aren't they the purveyors of most minimun or low wages/no benefits jobs? I would like to know why a real substantial raise of the minimum wage has not been a strong bargaining tool for the bail out and is still not talked about as a way to help “main street”. It is clear to me that such a raise would help everybody.
My second point is that the common republican wisdom is that you have to cut taxes on small businesses because they create jobs and are a vital part of the economy. But aren’t they the purveyors of most minimun or low wages/no benefits jobs?

]]> By: William Lauf http://www.onpointradio.org/2008/10/the-economic-advisers/comment-page-1#comment-4124 William Lauf Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:26:59 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=12609#comment-4124 Could your guests please talk to the wisdom or lack thereof of investing Social Security dollars in the stock market? Could your guests please talk to the wisdom or lack thereof of investing Social Security dollars in the stock market?

]]> By: Richard http://www.onpointradio.org/2008/10/the-economic-advisers/comment-page-1#comment-4113 Richard Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:29:43 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=12609#comment-4113 Senator McCain seems to have a loose collection of economic ideas: make Bush's tax cuts for wealthy Americans permanent and at the same time buy up sub-prime mortgages so people can retain ownership of their houses. The mortgage buyout smells like the gas tax cut during the primaries, something tossed out at the last minute to get votes. It doesn't seem to mesh with his trickle down tax cutting ideas and this makes it seem opportunistic. Since he's cutting taxes and the pork he plans to cut amounts to a small percentage of the national budget, where will the money come from to do all of these things? Is there some overarching theme in McCain's economic thinking? Senator McCain seems to have a loose collection of economic ideas: make Bush’s tax cuts for wealthy Americans permanent and at the same time buy up sub-prime mortgages so people can retain ownership of their houses.

The mortgage buyout smells like the gas tax cut during the primaries, something tossed out at the last minute to get votes. It doesn’t seem to mesh with his trickle down tax cutting ideas and this makes it seem opportunistic.

Since he’s cutting taxes and the pork he plans to cut amounts to a small percentage of the national budget, where will the money come from to do all of these things?

Is there some overarching theme in McCain’s economic thinking?

]]> By: Tatiana Pereira http://www.onpointradio.org/2008/10/the-economic-advisers/comment-page-1#comment-4068 Tatiana Pereira Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:33:28 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=12609#comment-4068 As a foreign business student graduating very soon, I was wondering how the financial crisis and its consequences will influence US policies regarding the H1B visa. As of now, there is a huge gap between demand for foreign professionals and the annual quota allotted, which hurts American businesses and the economy as a whole.Will a McCain or Obama Administration use the economic downturn as an excuse to tighten the quota even more or will they defy public opinion and address the problem in a logical and fair way? As a foreign business student graduating very soon, I was wondering how the financial crisis and its consequences will influence US policies regarding the H1B visa. As of now, there is a huge gap between demand for foreign professionals and the annual quota allotted, which hurts American businesses and the economy as a whole.Will a McCain or Obama Administration use the economic downturn as an excuse to tighten the quota even more or will they defy public opinion and address the problem in a logical and fair way?

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