How Power Affects People

It’s been an exciting week for American women in the workplace and women small business owners!

President Trump released his Tax Plan, and there have been supporters and people that disagree with the short and very direct policy with some specifics missing. My excitement is coming from the conversation that will be started on a new tax plan for American taxpayers and businesses. What I like so far is the elimination of the ‘Death Tax’ (estate tax), three tax rates, and the new corporate tax rate. However, some ideas don’t make me happy. One area that needs adjustments is for single American taxpayers who now lead in the landscape.   Single mothers especially need a break, and I’m not sure there will be one.

“For example, in 2017 a single parent with one child who claims the standard deduction would face a 25 percent tax rate on adjusted gross income between $53,050 and $68,550, compared with just a 15 percent rate under current law,” Roberton Williams, Tax Policy Center.

With a release of a new tax plan one of my favorite responses from women included the following from the Catholic Sisters and activists of NETWORK:

“Unfortunately but unsurprisingly, President Trump’s tax plan will widen the gap between the wealthiest and poorest people in our nation.”

Some things for the Sisters to think about; I’ve never met a poor person that created a job. The Catholic Sisters clearly don’t understand basic business concepts in the new global economy with advancing technology. What could happen if the current economic situation continues and current tax plans stay in place?

• The sister non-profit status could be taken away

What could happen if dramatic change occurs

• More jobs will be created, and that will give the Sister’s the opportunity to collect more money

With all the conversations happening around the country the leadership that will be required to make necessary decisions to help create a long-term vision of prosperity and safety will be tough. It will take an enormous amount of power and inner-strength to make ethical decisions that will go against a lot of people’s opinions and the status quo.

Can Congressional members take control?

Power in a lot of people create a focus on their personal self-interest, they become overconfident in decision making and will tend to make their goals and interest top priority. Can individuals gain control and use their power to produce positive results?

Does power corrupt?

Does power corrupt Congressional members?

Does power corrupt Presidents?

Does power corrupt the media?

The numbers indicate that we never had a taxation problem, we have a spending and corruption problem. Therefore, we might have to consider that most leadership can’t control their self-interest.

It may be too late with any plan for American women and children to gain financial stability and safety within a generation. Unfortunately, it may take a few generations to realize security and safety. The change may have to occur with the involvement of the most powerful men in the world with the use in of million or even trillions of American children’s money ‘behind the curtain’, with a ‘yellow brick road’ of hope for Americans, follow and a wish covered by a ‘magic wand’ that the economy grows.

Economic theories are NOT based on scientific theories or solid mathematics. The economic policies that will be created and have been set up in the past have been and will always be ’a roll of the dice.’ American politicians, the media, academics, and financial experts are all giving individual opinions and hoping and wishing it all works out. There are too many variables that can occur during an economic plan that could create disasters or small bumps in the path to stability and growth.

Creating new financial strategies will create an elevated level of risks and an enormous amount of fear, but it’s time for a change.

What will happen?

“America would be a better place if leaders would do more long-term thinking” – Wilma Mankiller

Meanwhile back in the real world

What’s the ROI?

American society operates on a balance sheet that is growing with a huge deficit from a variety of reasons. The American shareholders for generations have hired the wrong political employees to handle the leadership responsibilities of the Nation. They have failed over and over.

It’s time for understanding that everyone works within some type environment it doesn’t matter if you are a stay-at-home mom, an entrepreneur, an executive or hourly associate at Wal-Mart. The over regulations, over taxation and the overreach of government agencies, has punished average American for trying to make a living while a select few could profit. The return on investment for allowing ‘trickle down economics’ to occur without favors would help all Americans. Sure, business owners of all sizes will gain wealth and Americans that receive the paycheck from those business owners gain a way to take care of their families, entrepreneur growth will once again prosper, and the choice of being a stay-at-home mom may become an easier decision. Single parents may even end up with some tax breaks.

We need to allow business the opportunity to re-invest the money in employee benefits, training, and our communities. Lowering the corporate tax rate can also increase the likelihood of business expansion and innovation. What we can’t allow is for the ‘career politicians’ and Lobbyist to continue to drive the agenda as they have for generations. We have no idea how much their dysfunctional behavior has ruined American children’s future while placing them in trillions of debt. As Jack Abramoff, a high-powered Lobbyist stated “…We owned them”. If Mr. Abramoff didn’t own a Congressional member, there are hundreds of other Lobbyists passing out money.

“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.” – Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States

Reality

Americans are trillions deep in federal debt, and most states are billions deep in debt. We are still headed for an economic crisis. Let the discussion begin on the ‘one-page written outline of the new tax plan’ to ensure that Americans receive some tax relief. Leaving with the thought again about single moms and dads who desperately need the biggest tax break

“Under Trump’s tax plan, the head of household filing status would be eliminated. As has been widely reported, this change would carry high costs for single parents, who currently rely on the head of household filing status.”

Questions American women need to think instead of taking political party sides.

What will leaders try to put aside their personal self-interest, egos and need for power to help American single women?

What will Congressional members read the tax plan and carefully try to develop it?

What Congressional members will turn down the money from Lobbyist to do was is best for American children?

President Trump’s ideas may not be perfect, it needs a little adjustment but moving forward with conversations will only help women.   At this point in history, American women have NOTHING much left to lose.

“Courage is grace under pressure.” — Ernest Hemingway