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Current Program
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Program 10-32
Program # 10-32: (July 31, 2010 – August 6, 2010) This week on Lincoln Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) about Pennsylvania's illegal immigration problem; Joe Geiger has Lou Castriota, Jr. of Leg Up Farms in the Nonprofit Spotlight; And, Al Paschall has a Somedays commentary on declining newspaper circulation.
LRJ Features
Newsmaker Interview
Newsmaker Interview
Lowman Henry
with
State Senator John Eichelberger on
Unfunded Mandates on Counties and Municipalities
Capitol Watch
David Taylor,
Kevin Shivers & Matt Brouilette
with
Brad Bumsted, Tribune-Review on
Government Corruption
Non-Profit Spotlight
Joe Geiger
with
Shawn Walluski on
AARP's Work Search Project
Somedays Commentary
Al Paschall
on
Stoned America
Town Hall Commentary
Lowman Henry
on
Pork Perverts Legislative Process
Making Cents
Doug Keegan
on
Investing in a Volatile Market
Mouseover the section titles
for more information
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click the section title
to listen to the program.
 Lighting the brushfires of freedom |
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(July 31, 2010 – August 6, 2010) This week on American Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with Thomas E. Woods, Jr. of the Ludwig von Mises Institute about his new book: Nullification: How to Resist Tyranny in the 21st Century; Doug Keegan of Harris SBSB has a Making Cents look at investing in a volatile stock market; And, Col. Frank Ryan, USMC (Ret.) has an American Radio Journal commentary on the important right of school choice. |
Latest Articles:
(20 Jul)
Pork Perverts Process
WAM money flows even amid budget crisis
by Lowman S. Henry, Chairman and CEO,
Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research
Thousands of state workers will be losing their jobs, the state's social service agencies are struggling to deal with delayed and reduced funding, roads and bridges across the commonwealth are crumbling, yet pork barrel spending on politically favored projects, many of dubious value, continues unabated.
For decades now many legislators have engaged in the process of requesting funding for projects within their districts. To be sure some have merit, such as grants to fire companies and money to build playgrounds. Others are egregious, like the millions earmarked for the Specter library and the John Murtha center. But, meritorious or not, the process by which funding is approved is blatantly political and, at times, borders on legalized bribery.
Both parties and all branches of government are to blame ...
(16 Jul)
Stock Market Volatility Redux
by Doug Keegan
When it comes to the stock market, are we back to the future? Volatility has returned, with the S&P 500 up big one week, down big the next. So what do these moves suggest? Is a global double-dip recession imminent? Or, is this the start of a new bull market? What is the average investor to do? Here to explain is Doug Keegan of Harris SBSB.
Doug, some say the economic data doesn't look good. We've seen continued volatility in the stock market. Can you please detail what you're seeing and what may lie ahead for investors?
That's right, Lowman. It goes without saying that our tax laws are complex and constantly changing. It's tough even for tax professionals to keep current let alone a recent college graduate. So what I'd like to do is provide some tax tips. The key is, as with all planning, don’t wait until the last minute. Now is the time to plan.
So what tax tips are you going to share with us?
You're right, Lowman. The economic data is troubling. In fact, the evidence has risen to the point where I now think there is a strong case the economy could be in recession within 6 months. But that doesn't mean that the stock market won't go higher. Corporations are still making money and managing operations well. So, I don't want to come across as a doom and gloomer. I'd like to share 5 positives and 5 negatives. Let's start with the negatives:
#1 Political Will: We have a dysfunctional Congress ...
(8 Jul)
Misery Index - The need to rebuild America
by Frank Ryan
For those old enough to remember, the 1980’s were consumed by periods of high unemployment, high inflation, and devastating interest rates. The national debt was almost $1 Trillion. Interest rates were in the high teens and inflation was equally high.
President Reagan, in a national debate, asked the devastating rhetorical question which haunted then President Carter, "Are we better off today than we were four years earlier?" The answer to the question was intuitively obvious to the most casual observer at the time and is believed to have had a significant effect on the outcome of the presidential election that year.
Unfortunately, since the1980’s, the impact of continued deficits under both parties, systemic undermining of American industry, and the wholesale degradation of our nation’s critical infrastructure, have combined to yield extremely high unemployment, recklessly low interest rates, and volatile and unrecognized inflation.
The dichotomy of the economic realities of low interest rates, deceptive and volatile inflation rates and high unemployment do not bode well for our economy and our citizens ...
(21 May)
The Jones Is Over
by Albert Paschall
What do you do if you are a political junkie in Pennsylvania since October of '08 when McCain/Palin had pretty much imploded? You 'jones' out. For those who may not understand the verb 'jones', to 'jones' out is when a junkie needs a fix and politically there hasn't been one, in awhile, in this state, for those of us so addicted.
Last Tuesday's victory of Congressman Joe Sestak over Pennsylvania's Senior Senator of nearly 30 years is bringing on the race of the new millennium in this state. Since I happen to be well acquainted with both candidates I can't wait. Joe Sestak is my hometown Congressman and Pat Toomey was associated with the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research during his tenure with the Club for Growth.
Sestak ran an amazing campaign using the Lowman Henry adage: "run somebody who stands for something, against somebody who stands for nothing and something will generally win." Running a marathon race, rather than a sprint, Sestak held his money back until the end of the campaign then pummeled Specter with an ad that featured George W. Bush praising Specter with Rick Santorum holding his arm in the air in a victory embrace, closing with footage of Specter drawling: "I switched to the Democratic Party to get re-elected." Tag line: "Arlen Specter cares about one job: his." A brilliant media master stroke.
However Sestak is an Obama liberal ...
Commentary:
Town Hall Commentary
Muddled Message
Legislative leaders tarnish the GOP brand
Quick question: which party's legislative leadership would you expect to vote for a budget that plunges the state more deeply into debt by borrowing $600 million; relies on over $800 million in federal funding not yet approved by congress; agrees to levy a new tax on the only major industry in the state experiencing significant growth, creates an entire new government bureaucracy, and is based on unrealistic revenue projections?
If you answered Democrats, you would be right. But, you would also be correct if you answered Republicans. Yes, the entire leadership ranks of the Republican caucuses in the General Assembly joined with Governor Ed Rendell to pass a state budget that has been labeled by critics as a "house of cards," "government by postponement," and lacking in "fiscal sanity." GOP legislative leaders were so out of step the overwhelming majority of members in their own caucuses did not follow, and instead cast votes against the budget.
Driving the Republican leadership's support of what is clearly an unrealistic budget was an overwhelming desire to get the budget passed on time. The single biggest goal for leaders of both political parties was to avoid a replay of last year's 101-day budget stalemate. In the interest of "getting the job done on time," the leaders heaved overboard their party's principles and brand.
This is, unfortunately, not an unprecedented situation ...
Our Finest Hour
Americans assert their God-given rights
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." - Declaration of Independence
With those words the thirteen colonies that would eventually form the United States of America set forth on a grand experiment. In declaring independence from England the colonists asserted that their freedoms - our freedoms - came not from the sovereign King of England, but rather from our Creator. In what was a radical new paradigm for the times, the signers of the declaration were saying that it is government's role to secure our rights, not to grant us our rights, because rights are God-given.
Over the past eighteen months we have witnessed a dramatic erosion of those God-given rights, and the most far-reaching expansion of federal government power our nation has seen outside of war time. From a defacto federal take-over of the health care system, to bail-outs that made the federal government the largest stakeholder in financial firms and auto companies, to an ongoing effort to seize control of energy allocation via "Cap and Trade" legislation ...
Essays on Rebuilding America
Democracy and Freedom Lost
In my years of service in the United States Marine Corps and having had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time in foreign nations, it became very clear how to me how governments are overthrown and ways of life destroyed.
The developments over the past decade or two have caused me great concern that the very freedoms upon which we were founded are in jeopardy.
The Bill of Rights, a most precious accord of rights for mankind, is being challenged daily by those seeking to oppress and all in the name of "taking care of us."
The communist playbook from its early days focused on controlling certain activities and societal functions in order to take control of a government.
I cannot help but wonder if our democratic and republic form of government is being systematically replaced with a socialist, communist or even totalitarian regime today.
Consider how socialism or communism gains control: ...
Civil Liberties Eroded
The health care bill, the financial services industry restructuring, the Patriot Act and a host of other bills, rules, regulations, and controls are all serving to quickly erode the very liberties upon which our Nation was founded.
Our Nation was founded upon the principles that we were endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights to include the rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
The current climate in Washington is trampling on those rights as our individual freedoms are quickly and systematically eroded.
A government that feels you are not capable of making sound, rational choices and decisions is supplanting your wisdom and self-determination with those of the collective good in their minds. The concept of taking personal responsibility has been lost.
For example ...
Making Cents
by Doug Keegan
Getting Back to Basics
For many recent college graduates, this summer marks the start of their professional careers. And with that, comes the all-to-dreaded responsibility of preparing one’s own tax return. Many recent graduates may find it difficult preparing a tax return that will result in paying the least amount of tax. But Doug Keegan of Harris SBSB says that with a little tax planning, the 2010 graduate can save hundreds of dollars in taxes.
Doug, many recent college graduates will be entering the workforce for the first time. And many have no experience with taxes. You suggest that by planning now, they may be able to save hundreds of dollars.
That's right, Lowman. It goes without saying that our tax laws are complex and constantly changing. It's tough even for tax professionals to keep current let alone a recent college graduate. So what I'd like to do is provide some tax tips. The key is, as with all planning, don’t wait until the last minute. Now is the time to plan.
So what tax tips are you going to share with us?
I'd like to share 5 tax tips: ...
Getting Back to Basics
Though payrolls increased in April, unemployment edged up, as hopeful job seekers flooded back into the job market. Yet despite increased payrolls, a troubling trend is emerging: the number of workers out of work for six months or longer is, unfortunately, on the rise. For those unemployed, the financial stress and damage can be devastating. So how do you financially prepare for such a risk? Are there steps you can take now to help cushion the financial uncertainty of receiving notice? Doug Keegan of Harris SBSB is here to explain.
Doug, the labor market seems to be improving, yet the unemployment rate went up. Can you explain?
The jobless rate went up from 9.7% to 9.9% because workers came back into the labor pool. For the first time in a long time, workers saw an improving job market and decided to jump back in. But until the demand for workers soaks up supply, this trend will continue. And unfortunately we have a long way to go before we get back to say a 5% unemployment rate. In fact, it could take more than 5 years before we recover the some 8 million jobs lost during this recession. Yet there's no question, private sector job growth is starting to accelerate. Hopefully, this trend will continue.
Right, these higher payroll numbers should build confidence back into the market and spur even more job growth, correct?
Yes. Our economy, for better or for worse, is based on consumer demand ...
Somedays
By Albert Paschall
Senior Fellow, Lincoln Institute
The tears wiped dry
by Albert Paschall and Dianne Ryan Paschall
What happens to a 60 pound, 7 year old body when 5,000 pounds of SUV slam into it, 30 feet from its home? It shatters into little pieces. Then a young mother helplessly holds her daughter while she dies.
Erica Shelly, Age 7, November 2008
When a fully loaded 18 wheeler crashes into the back of a school bus, what happens? It explodes into flames leaving panicked high school students scrambling to get out. ...
Take the zoning test
As spring arrives new construction can begin. Soon you will see houses, offices and stores springing up. This might be a good time to test your local zoning skills. The Zoning Test won't take long. It isn't for NIMBYs (Not-In-My-Backyarders). Those are the people who hold season tickets to every local government meeting to complain about everything under and sometimes including the sun. It's not fair for NIMTOOS (Not-In-My-Term-Of-Office) to take it either. If you pass the test you know who those people are in your community. It's just three simple questions with multiple guess answers so grab your pen and try.
Question #1: The twenty bucolic wooded acres behind your home was zoned HI when you bought your house. The real estate agent said this meant Heavily Island of open space. Now you find that it means Heavy Industrial and 100,000 square foot compost plant will be built there. To stop it you should: ...
LI Surveys:
Recession Loses Steam, Job Losses Continue
Employers report declining sales, dissatisfaction with government
Pennsylvania employers say that the state's economy has somewhat stabilized over the past six months, but the progress has come at the cost of jobs as many companies have cut the size of their work force.
Backing away from historic low confidence levels, the Spring 2010 Keystone Business Climate Survey of employers found 43% saying the state's business climate has gotten worse over the past six months as opposed to the 62% who reported a deteriorating business climate six months ago. Thirteen percent said the economy in Penn's Woods has improved over the past six months, up from the 8% who saw an improvement in the Fall 2009 survey. The number of businesses saying the economy has remained about the same rose from 29% last September to 41% this spring.
Optimism about the condition of the state's economy over the coming six months is limited. Twenty-five percent say they expect the business climate to improve, 39% say it will stay about the same, while 35% are braced for conditions to worsen further.
As businesses struggle to stay afloat during the recession they are trimming their work force. Thirty-two percent reported having reduced the number of people they employ ...
Survey
Results
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Survey Analysis
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