Presidential election, 2016

[David Horn]

(12-28-2016, 09:36 PM)Warren Dew Wrote:

(12-28-2016, 02:39 PM)David Horn Wrote: There are many types of contractors in this world, and I've employed some and been some as well. I have a hard time believing that your status became illegal under BHO, but was OK prior to that.

Independent software contracting.  The issue is that there's a lot of regulatory flexibility regarding how much pressure is put on employers to provide employee style benefits like health care to contractors.  Under Obama, that pressure rose high enough that many software employers simply stopped using independent contractors, even when those contractors had their own health insurance and such.

I tend to agree that those changes were warranted. Companies love to use the mantel of 'contractor' to avoid the responsibilities they have to employees. Uber is a prime example. When the companies punt, and their not-employees need healthcare, the taxpayer pays. That's just wrong.

Warren Dew Wrote:

David Horn Wrote:On the other issue, can you honestly say that the economy under BHO was not affected by the inaction of the GOP-dominated Congress?  At that, it improved but less than it should have, because Mitch McConnell wanted it that way.

The economy was greatly affected by the Republican takeover of the House in 2010.  Had the Democrats stayed fully in charge, the unemployment rate would likely still be at least 10%, maybe much higher.

The only real bump in employment occurred during the brief window when the stimulus was in effect. Since the Republicans siphoned-off most of that at the state level, the effect was too small ... but it worked to the extent it did. I can see no argument for 10% unemployment if the infrastructure part had been implemented -- just the opposite.