Here is the Pro-Bush memo that will be included with my paycheck

[Marnieworld]

See earlier thread for explanation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2547066

So I found a way to get a copy of the text of the "Talking Points Memo." It's clearly an attempt to convince employees that its in "our own best interest" to support Bush.

So here's the text. Help me refute these points in any way possible. Thanks.

Mad Marnie

Memo


1. Association Health Plans

a. President George W. Bush - The president supports the formation of association health plans (AHPs), which will allow small businesses to join together across state lines to purchase health insurance. AHPs will level the playing field for small businesses by allowing them to purchase health insurance at a more competitive rate in the same way that Fortune 500 companies and labor unions buy health coverage.

b. Senator John Kerry - The senator opposes AHPs. AHPS will directly challenge the stranglehold that Blue Cross and Blue Shield have on the small business health care market. Blue Cross and Blue Shield is one of John Kerry's biggest supporters.

c. What does this mean for you as an employee? If AHPs are permitted, you as the employee will greatly benefit by the increased purchasing power of your company joining an AHP. The benefit will be that you receive reduced health insurance rates. You get more money in your pocket and you put less into the health insurance company's pocket!

2. Tax Relief for Small Businesses

a. President George W. Bush - The president supports making the tax relief to small businesses permanent. By providing tax relief to small businesses, the president is insuring that small businesses put less money into the federal government and have more funds available for the operations of the business. More money allows businesses to provide new equipment and create new jobs.

b. Senator John Kerry - The senator wants to repeal the tax relief that was provided to small businesses. He wants to increase the tax rate of anyone making greater than $200,000.00 per year. This means that most small businesses will see their tax rates increased because most small businesses file individual tax returns. This increase in taxes will slow down economic growth.

c. What does this mean for you as the employee? Tax relief for small businesses creates jobs and insures that businesses have the opportunity to grow. Alternatively, tax increases translate into owners having fewer resources to purchase new equipment and to insure the growth of the company that you depend on. You as the employee will benefit from continued tax relief because it will help insure the future stability of the company for which you work.

3. Tort Reform

a. President George W. Bush - The president supports tort reform to limit frivolous law suits. Excessive litigation settlements have a negative impact on businesses. The negative effect comes in the form of higher insurance premiums, excessive regulations and lost resources. Tort reform will help to reduce losses and eventually will help to better control insurance premiums.

b. Senator John Kerry - The senator does not support tort reform. One of his largest bases of support is the trial lawyer community. In fact, his running mate - John Edwards - made millions from frivolous law suits. Most trial lawyers make their money off of fees based on a certain percentage of the insurance settlement. The bigger the settlement, the larger the payout to the lawyer. The trial lawyers have made certain that John Kerry opposes any reform that will limit their income.

c. What does this mean for you as the employee? Tort reform hurts your employer and your team. It creates extremely high premiums in health insurance and business insurance. These increased premiums limit the money that your employer has to spend on equipment and other business expenses. You benefit by limiting tort reform because your employer can provide you with better equipment and other benefits that they may otherwise not be able to afford.


Aqoute from an email from the author:
"I would like to keep it short and sweet and make sure that the employee realizes what the benefits are of directing their votes to the President."

ggrrrrrrrr!

[mongo]

1. Tax relief for small business

b. Senator John Kerry - The senator wants to repeal the tax relief that was provided to small businesses. He wants to increase the tax rate of anyone making greater than $200,000.00 per year. This means that most small businesses will see their tax rates increased because most small businesses file individual tax returns. This increase in taxes will slow down economic growth.

That would be $200,000 in NET income, after expenses (deductions). What a business owner takes home at the end of the day. If a business owner makes over 200K in net income, and wants to keep the money in the business, he should re-organize his company as a C corporation. The government should not be supporting bad business decisions.

Additionally, Kerry's planned tax breaks for providing health care for your employees and tax breaks for hiring employees will have a far greater effect towards small business health than giving the business owner a tax break on the salary he takes OUT OF THE BUSINESS.

[mark414]

5. plus

it would only affect roughly 900,000 of 27 million or so such businesses

and over half of those 900,000 businesses are people who have NO employees

and remember how kerry mentioned that bush received something like $48 from a timber company?

well, that's true, and according to the administration's classification for "small business," that $48 (or however much it was) qualifies george as a small business owner

it's a really disengenous and flat out dishonest argument, very misleading

there's a good article out there about this...i'll try to find it

[sandnsea]

2. In the interest of fair play?

Can you add your own flier? I'd be happy to help create a very quick rebuttal along the exact same lines of your bosses flier. I think you should anyway, just to show him how stupid he is. Or at least hand it out as people pick up their paychecks. It's bold, but your boss does believe in democracy, right? (haha)

[IkeWarnedUs]

11. I suggest using the pro Kerry endorsements

The New York Times and Chicago SunTimes both did very good endorsements. Why not copy one or both, make copies and pass them around.

Here are links to the endorsements. I cut and pasted them (with links) so they fit on 8 1/2" x 11" paper on Works - SunTimes one page, NYT two - I can e-mail them if you like.



http://www.suntimes.com/output/commentary/cst-edt-edits24x.html



http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/opinion/17sun1.html?ex=1099038334&ei=1&en=3bf394b9d0e6882c


Edit to add: I offer these only if you are comfortable responding at work. I don't think anyone wants you to put your job security in jeopardy.

[skygazer]

3. Attempting to sway their employees' votes

Is a really stupid thing for any business owner to do. I am appalled that they would choose to do so. Unfortunately, most people don't have the luxury of going to their boss and saying, "Look, this offends me and I don't think it's right." But it would offend me and I don't think it's right.

[Demit]

4. just throw the thing away. do you really want to take on your boss?

there's no percentage in that. He's not going to change his mind--he's an employer, and his interests are by nature different from yours. It always was and so it shall always be.

Sounds like he's trying to rationalize to you and the other workers, is all. Make himself feel better. I'd say don't make an issue of it. If someone is actually standing over you as you open your pay envelope, just smile, fold it in half, and put it in your pocket. It's not worth it.

[mark414]

6. it is worth it though

the boss is abusing his power to try to unduly influence his employees

but it's a private company, so i can't say anything about it

[DenaliDemocrat]

7. I think I would

write a simple letter (anonymous of course) to my employer informing him/her that inferring that someone's job depends upon their voting as directed by their employer is probably vote tampering at the least and perhaps extortion at the most. Both are criminally prosecutable.

I would end the letter with "just a heads up to the management about the right to free elections in this country and how employees should side with their Constitutional rights"

[zbdent]

9. Actually, couldn't you also CC the FEC?

?

[Demit]

8. how does she win the argument, though? I can't see it, it only hurts her..

I'm all for standing up for one's beliefs but...this is a small business, and small business owners are very ego-driven, and they don't like being challenged, esp. by their employees. It's his (the owner's) bat and ball. Even if she resoundingly refutes every one of his points and wins the argument, she loses. That's all I'm saying.

[Cleita]

10. About Association Health Plans.

They are already available and many businesses already use them. Bush is offering nothing new. However Bush's "improvement" on the plan would exempt such associations from regulations that currently prohibit discrimination against individuals based on health status. The insurance companies can cherry pick the youngest and healthiest members. The ill and aged can be refused coverage. No wonder the insurance companies and your boss loves this.

[fob]

12. Goto www.bigpath.net and print out any of several fliers as equal response

Barring that, print them out and hand them out off-grounds as employees leave for home.


EDIT: Forgot to add - Can you simply ask him this, given all that he's listed there that bush* supports or would do, why hasn't bush* already done it since he has an all repugnican government to work with? And 9/11 is not an answer because bush* sure had time for tax cuts and no bid contracts and campaigning and fundraising.