because they didn't like recent voting laws in Georgia that cost the community that Atlanta Cobb County estimated $100 So, that number had a lawsuit against. Then there's also gtmhub get a full page, Wall Street Journal, comparing Biden, Carter was in something Alfredo actually had wrote about in an op ed in March, where he was way ahead of the curve on this one predicting that Biden was going to be the modern day Jimmy Carter, in terms of rising prices and inflation. And then the, the last thing to go over here and without these we can get into more in depth stuff with Alfredo on these but they have a monthly monitors poll, which they've been doing for the past couple months so that is, it's a poll of 500 small business owners on a variety of economic issues, how they're feeling about inflation, what are their biggest economic concerns, and a couple other interesting questions in there, but the probably the most recent things that we've Junkers number has been. Okay. Take your break. Tell the IRS yeah yeah no problem, I mean, yeah. So basically, Josh kind of laid out. I think for us, what we've done. Obviously, you know, you know, we're very excited about the progress that we have made in terms of being the leading voice of small businesses in this country and really standing up, you know, for you know like the Major League Baseball offsuit is a great example where nobody else was really standing up to do the right thing there to help you know the many small business owners, primarily minority small business owners in Atlanta, they were hurt by the all star game being pulled out of Atlanta, so you know we stepped up to the plate. All puns intended. And, you know, and we did where we had to do, we're very proud of those actions, and that kind of activity, and we're gonna continue doing that kind of stuff we're gonna try to keep on looking at different ways that we can continue to support our small businesses but also, I think, you know, broaden our footprint to maybe talking about things like critical race theory, and its impact for example on on business overall in our economy, and quite frankly, our country. As Josh said we're unabashed supporters of free enterprise. And one of the, one of the tenants of critical race theory for examples to attack capitalism, and we actually believe that capitalism is one of the greatest institutions in this world center actually does a better job of getting people out of poverty than, than any other kinds of theories that are out there, especially socialism. You know, so we're gonna continue fighting this fight.
Yeah, I mean, I think that, you know, obviously you know our paper and that's sort of our focus to is really to shed light on the, the, the history of of communism, socialism and how bad it is for humanity, really. So right yeah and then of course you know everything that you're talking about, you know, we have the same sort of focus here at the paper. I was looking over some of the things that you know that your your organization does. And some of the things I mean obviously I don't know that much because I just started to learn about the organization but one of the things that struck me is really interesting was, you had there, what you call a fight for 50. And so that you know, in, in, in, you know, instead of, say, the $15 minimum wage, which is what the Democrats want to do. Could you say more about the pipe professional, yeah.
Yeah, Sure, that's an initiative that we kicked off actually several years ago before. It was a 515 if you remember a fight, I think it was like 1010 is what Obama was pushing forward. And we came up with this idea, as they kind of started pushing to the fight for 15 is why are we so busy trying to, you know, fight for raising floors we shouldn't we should be fighting to raise ceiling. So our belief is that, you know why keep people at $15 hour why not give them the skill sets that are needed to get people out of these jobs and into jobs that pay, you know $50,000 per year and there's a lot of them out there. For example, H AC technicians make about $50,000 entry level plumbers journeyman, which are electricians, they make about $50,000 per hour so our philosophy is that, let's not just perpetuate the situation that people are in let's give them the opportunity to get the skills that they need to improve themselves and to also improve their situation because what I always tell my Democrat friends is that the reality is if you let's say move from $10 to $12, in $12 $15, will be burgers. The reality is, you're still flipping burgers. You're not fundamentally changing people's lives by just giving them a couple extra bucks per hour. So I always reach out and go look, why don't we work together. And when you look at the number of people that are actually fall in this category for example that are, I always focus on 25 and over, they're making a wage because, you know, I think if you're under 25 years out of college, you know, Or you could be, you know, you know, 18 year old high school doing something, you know they're an entry level positions, which, which really deserve entry level salaries because they don't necessarily have the kind of productivity and output that deserves more than an entry level salary. And they did that they should be moving out of those positions, you know, in about six months or so and continue to advance and move up and move forward. In those situations, for whatever reason and most likely I have no fault of their own. They're stuck in a situation where they're still flipping burgers, they're still an entry level position they're 25 and over they might have family, so let's get into the training that they need to get these great pain positions. You know, let's get into the skill sets that they need to do that. So again, I would say let's stop fighting for raising floors and let's break ceilings together.
Okay, yeah, that's good. So, can you, I mean, I know that Josh did go over, you know, some of the things, kind of quickly about what you, you're doing this year. Can you, can you talk about maybe something that, that, you know you're working, say, I know that you, you do a lot of work on the hill. And you do talk to lawmakers so what is something that you know, is there anything that you're working with particular lawmakers on at this point about helping small businesses are.
Well you know we we've coined the phrase the war on small business because we really believe that that's exactly what's going on here under the Biden's administration. And when you look at every single policy than putting out. There's not a single one of those that's actually going to help small businesses and small businesses are the backbone of our country so, you know, we're calling this you know Biden's and the Democrats war on small business because there really is almost an intentional focus on trying to figure out how to destroy small businesses in this country. Because why they certainly are hearing about these small businesses and you can't, you know you can't turn on Fox without seeing that and I know that the White House and others and Democrats watch Fox, you know, they never tried stated they would never admit that. And they hear about, you know, the small businesses, you know, being heard, day in and day out. Yet, they want to push you know these kinds of policies that talk about federal minimum wage, which we do that agree and they talk about, for example, Senator Wyden out of, out of Oregon, you know, is repealing the 20% tax deduction, which was really one of the primary ways that small businesses benefited and the Trump administration and new tax cut and Jobs Act, was that 20% tax reduction. Well, now they're looking at repealing that so they can somehow pay for this ridiculous amount of spending, you know $1.92 trillion. On this first, you know Bill and infrastructure, I guess. They say it's 1.2 but when it's all said and done, you'll see I'll probably be closer to trillion in the three and a half trillion dollar ANC Bernie bill. And that's on top of the other 2 trillion path, I mean, inflation is going to be here. That's why, you know, back in March when I wrote that op ed, we call the Jimmy Carter 2.0 Because I saw this just really on the verge of happening because of that's ridiculous, unfettered spending that quite frankly, Janet Yellen embraces they call it modern monetary theory which basically says, Don't worry about that and deficits, because we can just keep on printing money to fund social programs. Well guess what, that's actually good as well. That's a socialist country. And look what's happened in socialist countries as well as we went from being one of the richest countries in the world to one of the poor, because that was their philosophy, don't worry about that and deficit, go ahead and print money defense social programs, well in the end, that doesn't work. Look at the $15 minimum wage for example with a CBO said is that it estimates that it could pull out about a million people out of poverty. Well, I've got another really great solution that people pull out of poverty and it's called economic success. Between 2017 and 2019 under the Trump administration, almost 6.5 million people were pulled out of poverty because of economic success. It's the idea that a rising tide floats all boats. And so, you know, but the Democrats just don't believe that they don't like small business, they like big business because they can control them they can corral them they can get in bed with them, and they can't do that with small but
yeah that's interesting because during lockdowns, I think that they prospered quite a bit and they did large corporations.
Very much so and there was absolute. I guess lack of the qualities in businesses like, why was a Publix or a Kroger, or Piggly Wiggly or white Why were those considered essential but the local mom and pop was not, you know, and so the disparities were just horrible and they really, really feel small, but look at New York City I think the estimate that I've seen is that by end of the summer, almost 60% of the total of all the small businesses in New York City, are going to be out of business. I mean, that's horrible. And these small businesses are just fleeing the state because, you know, they'll go to Florida, they'll go to Georgia, they go to Texas, states that have Republican governors that believe in free enterprise and capitalism, and freedom of choice
and not mandating everything that they think you're supposed to write Yeah. So, I mean I, I'm only. I'm only asking this, not because I know you've already covered this a little bit but in May Biden actually said that his economic plan is working because I'm because we have, we creating more jobs. And so the workers can ask for higher pay. And, I mean, I know that everything you're saying opposes that and but I don't understand how he can say that, and, and,
and, yeah. Well, sadly, sadly, because the Democrats control the liberal media, which is about 80% of the media out there, and they don't push back on the narrative, because they actually subscribe and just basically echo the narrative, put out by the White House, and frankly, they're just lied. You know when, when they say we don't see any evidence, how the extra $300 You know benefits impacted you know the labor market. I'm sorry that's bullshit. It really is. Excuse my language but it really is, you know the obviously don't go out and talk to small business owners that are continuously seeing every single call that I would have they'd be like, what are we doing about, you know that, what are we doing, I can't find anybody, I have to close my restaurants because I can't find anybody work, everybody's telling me, they'd rather stay at home collected $300 benefits. You know the extended benefits, then come in and work, I can't compete against the federal government. Yeah. And, you know, and it's just, it's just completely bogus and idea that Biden's taking credit when it's obviously a vaccine induced recovery brought by President Trump and Vice President Pence right in operation work speed that brought us a vaccination that the shots in the arm it's the lifting of the mass mandate. Thank goodness for the 26 governors, you know that that that you know Republican governors out there that understood what it actually took to mean, you know, continuing to watch for people safety but driving an economy as well which was their responsibility as governor.
Right. Yeah, this is, you know, I mean, with the, with the continued spending. This does not seem like it's gonna, you know, getting better anytime soon for the small businesses.
Well it's not because you know if you really start thinking about what's going to do the credit market right interest rates will continue to skyrocket inflation continues to go higher and higher, I was asked the question this morning. What are small businesses doing to offset some of that well I'll tell you what they're doing, they're raising prices. If you go to your restaurants you'll notice that your serving sizes are smaller. Now, I like, I think I might actually be fine for my waistline, I actually think my waistline might appreciate the smaller serving sizes, but really, consumers are going to be getting less and less goods and services, right as we move forward because small businesses have a finite pool of money. You know the average net profit bottom line profit of a restaurant, fast food restaurant in many cases a franchise is two to three pennies per dollar. So they don't have, you know this endless amount of money and when Biden, you know, reaches over the podium does. The answer to his labor shortage is paid and more. It's like, Dude, are you ridiculous, you're obviously have never actually run a business. You've always been a government official, right where the paycheck comes regardless. and you don't understand what it's like to run a small business that has a finite pool of profits to choose from. Right.
Well, which takes me to, you know, which I've read about the Fed, you know the the Treasury saying that this inflation is transitory. What would you say about that.
Again, again, I'll use the initials with blank, but it's true it's not transitory I mean I'm, I'm an economist by training, I have an MBA in finance is not transitory. Right, and actually the real story on the latest jobs report is it actually the number of jobs. It's the it's the, the evidence that is now being shown of dropping real wages of American worker. Because think about it. Yes, wages went up 4% But inflation is up by point 4% That means you're a negative 1.4% that means you're making less money now than you did before. It doesn't matter that the wager of 4% when you have inflation of five or 5.4% What's going to happen is that 7% 9% I'm actually predicting those probably going to hit nine to 10% in the next six to eight months. So that's the real story here right this is, you know, President Trump gave us tax cuts and Biden has given us pay cuts. Yeah, there's inflation tech.
Yeah, exactly, well I mean I think that, as you said earlier, it's, it's really important to get the word out as much as possible because I think that, you know people do watch certain, certain news. Most people watch the mainstream media and that's all they get is what the White House wants me here I think so. It's really. Yeah, that's right, they might be feeling it though, at this point I think that, you know, I don't know when the Fed is gonna say like, By now they can kind of say is transitory but I don't know when they're gonna have to admit Wait, this is really inflation. This is here to stay.
Well I feel like I've also predicted I know that the Fed will probably get straight sometime in 2023 Impossible. There is no way that the label to wait for play 23 It's going to happen. My prediction is probably first quarter 2022 you'll start seeing the interest rates to rise. And of course what's going to happen there you know what's going to happen to our debt and deficit. I mean it's going to cost us more and more and more to service this is actually exactly what a socialist country like Venezuela, experienced, you can't keep printing money to fund social programs.
Yeah, I wish more more the general public, understood that, you know, this is seems like,
Yeah, well, you know, the thing is, they don't and I can't really blame the general public, because there's the news, the majority of the news out there the mainstream media isn't doing their job. Right, I'm really digging in and asking these hard questions because they're just giving Biden a path and the Democrats the path. You know they probably get their, their daily media points before they start every day, you know from the White House, I wouldn't be surprised.
Yeah, I mean, you know, as we all know unless you really try to find the facts or real, real back it takes some work to do that, you know, so,
so yeah. Absolutely, absolutely. Anyway, you know, we're gonna keep on fighting we're gonna be loud about the fact we're going to be loud about the truth. We're going to use, you know, we've got about 260 small business advocates across the country that don't mind speaking out that are afraid of being cancelled and afraid of speaking the truth. And you know we're gonna continue to, to give these small business owners the opportunity the megaphone the platform to be able to you know to make their case to the American public through op eds through radio through print, TV interviews where I will help them with that. but also obviously you know my own push, and our communications team continuously to dry the messaging. Every day, multiple times a day, because we got to get the message out.
Is there anything else that you think that I forgot that you would like our audience to know about what you're doing.
You know we are we are treated as a small business. I don't care if they're Democrats, I don't care if the Republicans, I don't care if they're independent, I don't care if they're black, Hispanic, White, Asia, right, if you're a small business owner, you are going to have. We're going to have your back is the bottom line. Right, we're going to advocate for you as a small business owner, because they are truly the backbone of our communities. And when you combine them all, they're the backbone of our country, you take away small businesses he destroys all businesses, he destroy the communities and destroy our country.
Yeah well I think that about sums it up. Unfortunately, or fortunately, but you know I think that, yeah, so, so it's great work that you're doing, and thanks for for you. Yeah, thanks for taking the time.
Yeah, yeah. Absolutely and you know if you've got any other questions. You know, I'm sure Josh can set up anything and you know please keep on looking for our press statements and press release, where possible, you know, use them, you know, because we all got to work together if we're going to save this country,
yeah I totally agree, yeah. Okay, well thank you so much for taking the interest of the time. All right, talk to you later. Bye.
