ARTICLE
I'm not totally sure who I am anymore. I'm a very confused man. I used to find it both interesting and relaxing to watch the news outlets' stories about how our world was doing. I got a kick out of talking heads on various stations debating issues representing both sides. But, those days have changed and people are now more dug in relative to their position, as are news outlets. People are either happy with what's going on, or really upset with the Trump Administration's new direction. I find people either like it or hate it. I can tune into a variety of TV news outlets and find that President Trump's tax return was illegally obtained. Or I can flip the channel again, only to hear someone say he may have leaked the return himself and claim that he has done that kind of thing in the past. It's a story of huge importance, given Trump's resistance to sharing his returns. Or, is it much ado about nothing, given it appears he actually paid his share of taxes, as another outlet stated? I recently turned on the news and heard a young veteran who recently completed his tour of duty say, "I laid my life on the line and it's nice to have a president who appreciates veterans." I flipped the channel and heard a very impressive, professional woman tell me how terrible Trump's position is on immigration, not to mention his accusations against President Obama. She aggressively announced, "He'll never, ever be my president." I had lunch with some friends who love Trump's business-like approach to his proposed budget. "We finally have a president who's not spending, spending, spending," they said. The others in attendance wondered how anyone could be so heartless to chop funding for Meals on Wheels and the services they provide to the elderly. One expressed his appreciation that finally he won't have to deal with "the failure of Obamacare." Another worries if millions will lose coverage. "If we let Obamacare continue — nobody will have coverage," my anti-Obamacare friend cried out. So, here's my answer. I preside over a business organization and I know full well the members were near exasperation in the recent past. They felt an almost constant barrage on business. But they're happy now. Not always with some of the tweets, accusations, etc. but I understand what they're happy about. The stock market is up and let's face it, it is way up compared to the past. Far fewer regulations on business makes for a very positive stock outlook. Businesses are especially looking forward to the president's proposal of eliminating two regulations for every new one that goes into effect. Minimum wage is now less likely to double all at once, as recommended by the previous administration — yet another plus from the business community perspective. What they felt crazy about, and I mean crazy, was the previous administration almost doubling the salary threshold for overtime on nonexempt employees. A Texas court stopped that mandate in its tracks, but the Obama administration appealed. Businesses worried it would be reversed until Trump's election day. You see, the business mind can't understand how government keeps spending, never cutting, but "resolves" the insolvency by increasing the deficit. In the business mind, that result equals bankruptcy! Stay tuned, soon we will find out: Will President Trump withstand the barrage of daily accusations and challenges? Will he tweet or verbally accuse someone of an action that will sabotage his future? One thing is for sure, people are engaged like never before. Apathy is decreasing and that is a good thing! Tony Iannelli is president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. His column appears weekly on the Business Cycle. He can be reached at tonyi@lehighvalleychamber.org. Read the original article here.