Why do countries around the world now seem to outstrip the United States in terms of free market philosophies as well as tax issues, from the flat tax to social security? Can the US catch up?  During this installment of McCuistion Television, focusing on freedom in America, Dennis McCuistion is joined by three panelists on location at FreedomFest.  Discussing the state of freedom in America, Dennis McCuistion is joined by:

• Daniel Mitchell – Senior Fellow at the CATO Institute
• Michelle Muccio – Washington D.C. Representative and Production Associate at The Acton Institute
• Larry Abraham – The late Larry Abraham was the co-founder of PanAmerica Capital Group, Inc. and long-time author and editor of the Insider Report, an international geopolitical investment newsletter with over 10,000 private subscribers, worldwide.

The last twenty-five years of United States history have been successful in leading America towards a smaller government.  However, many economists and futurists look with question to the next twenty-five years to determine if, in fact, the trend will continue. There is a rising concern that socialist reforms will begin to take a hold on the free market system that has defined America for centuries.

Panelists discuss the free market system and how the opposing view of making the strong weaker by promoting economic equality is a dangerous approach.  History and current affairs have produced clear evidence that the idea of “fair” doesn’t work. Larry Abraham, with his extensive international exposure, expounds on this viewpoint by explaining the international view of America right now.

Wrapping up the conversation on freedom in America, Panelists also discuss  the flat tax, social security reform and some of the empirical evidence that supports both.  The panelists close the episode on “The State of Freedom in America” with FRTV’s Dennis McCuistion by offering suggestions for viewers to make a difference in these issues today.

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1704 – 07.02.09

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Dennis McCuistion is joined for a second time by Herb Meyer in Part Two of a two-part series on challenges facing culture in America.  Meyer is the author of The War Against Progress and the former Vice Chairman of the CIA’s National Intelligence Council during the Reagan Administration.  Herb Meyer discusses his suggestions for what should be done in order to save culture in America and Western civilization in general.

He begins the discussion by talking about multiculturalism and its use in education and the media.  He explains how the American way has always been to integrate, which is the very thing that has made America great. On the contrary, Europeans are multiculturalists and it has not been good for their society.  There needs to be an understanding among Americans, according to Meyer, that what has been done for years (immigrants becoming Americans) is the exact thing that has made us great, and we need to be very careful when we start talking about changing that.

Meyer cautions viewers and offers suggestions referencing the media and education in regards to all three of the challenges culture in America and Western civilization are facing. He continues on to offer feedback on what Americans should be focusing on in politics, education and media. He continues by explaining his views on what should be done in the Islamic world and the war. Reminding viewers of what the war is really about, he cautions the dangerous perspective we will give our children if we do not handle this correctly.

He closes the discussion talking about the education of our children regarding procreation.  Having and raising children cannot be seen as an inconvenience, an expense, or harmful to the environment.

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1709 – 02.17.08

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Herb Meyer, author of The War Against Progress and former Vice Chairman of the CIA’s National Intelligence Council during the Reagan Administration, joins Dennis McCuistion for this installment of FRTV. With the quickly changing world we find ourselves in today, Meyer addresses the biggest cultural challenges facing America and Western civilization during Part One of a two-part series.

According to Meyer, radical Islam, the demographic downturn worldwide, and the current cultural war are threatening the survival of Western Civilization and traditional culture in America.

Radical Islam - Radical Muslims do not accurately represent Islam as a whole. However, Meyer explains that most Germans were not Nazis, yet when the Nazis were in power, it led to World War II.  History is the story of competing operating systems.  The Middle East operates off of an old operating system and those that operate out of the Western system have drastically different world views.  He elaborates on the exact differences between the two world views and explains why this is a very serious challenge to western civilization.

Demographics - The birth rate is dropping at a greater rate than at any other time in history.  In order to keep the population at the same level, there must be 2.1 births per person in real numbers.  However, across the western world the birth rates are well below  2.1.  The economic implications are staggering.  However, in the non-Westernized Muslim world, there is a 2.1-6.8 replacement rate.  He spends time explaining the specific differences country to country and the various implications to Western civilization if something does not change.

Cultural War – Culture in America is also at risk. Some are calling the current cultural war in America the “second Civil War.”  The war is essentially summarized as Church vs. State or Religious Right vs. Secular Left. The crux of the fight centers around whether or not the family or the government will be the center of American life. Does the American culture desire a big government or a small government?

In part two of this series, Meyers talks about how we should face these challenges.

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04.04.09 -1710

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During this installment of McCuistion, Dennis McCuistion gathers financial wisdom from key experts regarding your personal finances in a tough economy. McCuistion is joined by Ed Douglas, author of 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom and a retired Bank CEO, and Kim Snider, a Financial Success Coach and author of How to Be the Family CFO.

In the current unstable  economic climate where people are losing their jobs, their savings and the money they’ve invested, there is a need for financial wisdom for those who are ready to take control of their personal finances.  Douglas and Snider discuss topics related to stock market losses, personal financial planning, saving, job loss, and debt accumulation and payoff.

Stock Market Losses

For those who have incurred stock market losses, it could take 10-20 years for the money to be regained.  Consequently, people are going to have to save more and work longer.  Snider and Douglas, offer both suggestions and warnings for the ready investor during this time period.

Personal Finance

It is critical that a clear plan is in place for family finances, a plan that takes future financial goals into consideration. Expounding on the topic of personal finance, the experts  discuss financial wisdom principles and guidelines for saving, the safest places for you to put your money, what to do when you lose your job, credit, debt and more.  Further discussing what to do in the event of unemployment, Snider covers discretionary and non-discretionary expenses and how both play into the personal financial plan.

Borrowing and Paying Off Debt

After stating that it’s okay for people to borrow on a home or education and nothing else, they offer suggestions on the most effective ways to get out of debt.

In closing, they suggest the following: get your credit cards paid off, establish your emergency fund, make sure that your bank account savings doesn’t exceed the FDIC limits of $250,000, continue to contribute to your investments and retirement, and manage your FICO score.

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02.22.09 – 1724

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In this episode of the McCuistion program,  Dennis McCuistion is joined by panelists:

• Stan Liebowitz, PhD., author of Anatomy of A Train Wreck & Director for the Analysis of Property Rights and Settlement
• Richard Bitner, author of Confessions of a Subprime Lender and Associate Publisher for Housing Wire Magazine
• Gerald P. O’Driscoll, Jr., Senior Fellow Cato Institute
• Ira Silver, PhD., Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business

The 2009 economy is breaking records and not necessarily the ones we’d like it to break. As we navigate the recession, McCuistion and the program panelists discuss the extremity of the problem, the effectiveness of government policies and the future.

We are in what could be described as a post war recession.  People are feeling the crunch of increased debt, and so they are working to get out of debt. This causes a strain on the housing market and other markets that rely on acquired debt in order to stay afloat.

In September 2008 the recession officially became a serious issue.  However, on a percentage basis, the 1982 recession actually resulted in a greater job loss than what the American market has experienced thus far.  And although the stock market has had its failings, the decline may not be  as bad as some may think.   In the United States the market generally goes up each  year  and 2008 was not much different.  In 2009  growth will likely drop 1-1.5% .

Housing is one critical component of the recession, because most housing markets are imbalanced from an inventory perspective.  In order for the market to improve, there  needs to be a general belief that the market has hit rock bottom. However, as public policy  pushes towards foreclosure moratoriums, it will likely be 3-4 years before this happens.

The panelists go on to explain the meltdown of the mortgage industry and what led to the 2009 economy and what it will take to move forward. Citing moral hazards, reckless lending, investing and negative interest rates that caused the boom cycle, they  reassure viewers that pessimists are usually wrong.

Also covered during this television segment are the positive and negative sides of the Fed’s decision to expand the money supply,  changing  interest rates, and each panelist’s predictions of the 2009 economy as well projections for the future state of the economy.

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02.15.09 – 1723

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In this segment of McCuistion, host Dennis McCuistion is joined by a panel of experts:

• Stan Liebowitz, PhD., author of Anatomy of A Train Wreck & Director for the Analysis of Property Rights and Settlement
• Richard Bitner, author of Confessions of a Subprime Lender and Associate Publisher for Housing Wire Magazine
• Robert Higgs, author of Crisis and Leviathan and Senior Fellow in Political Economy at The Independent Institute

Unemployment is rising, stocks have fallen 35%, every area of industry is challenged, credit is tight, foreclosures are on the rise, and no-one admits responsibility. This program explores the greed, fraud and incompetence in all areas of business and government. It asks if the remedies being applied by the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System (Fed) are the right ones and if, in fact, those in charge have any idea what they are doing to America’s economic future.

Experts point toward the mortgage industry and Wall Street as the source of the recession we’re in today and explain how the recession actually  started. Approximately 30-40 years ago getting a loan consisted of one loan recipient going to his or her local bank and completing the entire transaction through that one bank.  With the introduction and growth of securitization, which in itself isn’t a bad thing, a new era of issues were created.

In the early 1990s in an effort to get more Americans into homes, the Fed lowered lending standards to increase home ownership.  People no longer had to have verifiable income, strong credit history, and more.  This caused the demand for houses to go up and the prices of those houses increased right along with it. The panelists further explain the types of decisions and misinformation that took place during this time that led to the mishandling of the situation.

The experts   cover the role  investment banks have played, look critically at Wall Street and rating agencies, and examine the issues surrounding  both entities  decisions and actions.

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02.08.09 – 1722

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Based on Manny Mendoza and Mark Birnbaum‘s new documentary, Stop the Presses, this McCuistion program explores the demise of print media and its impact on democracy as well as innovative alternatives for the newspaper market today.

Dennis McCuistion is joined by a panel of experts:

• Tracy Everbach, PhD. of the Universiy of North Texas, Department of Journalism
• Manny Mendoza, Co-Director: Stop the Presses
• John Solomon, Executive Editor, Washington Times

As newspaper circulation numbers are declining and revenues are falling, we have to wonder if the newspaper market is in peril and if so, how will that affect democracy?

The newspaper market has been declining since 1917 on a percentage basis. With the increase of environmental awareness and the Internet, the decline has only increased.  In the recently released documentary, Stop the Presses, Manny Mendoza and Mark Birnbaum investigate the changing industry with the premise that newspapers have been a critical part of democracy in the United States due to their independent reporting and thorough investigations.  Manny Mendoza discusses specific stories that are explained in the documentary that support this statement.

Going back to the beginning, they discuss the Constitution’s mention of the press and how that plays out today. With the lower circulation rates and the time it will take a good reporter to really uncover the details of a story in sync with with all good investigative methods, the costs don’t match up. Solomon, of the Washington Times, talks of the historical importance of newspapers and what the Washington Times is doing to adjust to the changes.  He explains the monetary changes that come from moving from a print model to a web model and the Washington Times’ response.  He discusses some of the forward-thinking steps they have taken recently and how that is working for the newspaper.

Tracy Everbach discusses what is being done in the classroom today as journalism students are being trained to adjust to the changing newspaper market. The journalism business is turning to the web and they have to be prepared. The fundamentals of interviewing, investigating and reporting are taught, but multi-media classes are now given as well, so that students are ready to be journalists in the newspaper market of today.

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02.01.09 – 1717

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The flat tax, the economy, and government debt.  Economist and editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal, Stephen Moore, joins Dennis McCuistion to discuss a changing America in this edition of McCuistion Television.  During the course of the dialogue, they discuss likely changes that will occur after the November 2008 elections, the uncertain economic environment, tax policies and the stock market.

In speaking of the 2008 economy, Stephen Moore admits that America has seen great prosperity in the past few years, but the economy of a changing America is slowing down. The reasons rest with the housing market and the weakening value of the American dollar. He addresses how the weakening dollar directly affects the price of food, oil, gas and inflation in general.  He goes into deep detail about this, pulling in information regarding ethanol subsidiaries, the use of US farmland and cautions regarding overseas drilling versus taking advantage of the nation’s own natural resources.

Regarding the George W. Bush administration, McCuistion and Moore dialogue about the pros and cons, economically. He speaks on what the administration did right regarding tax cuts and what they did wrong in the way of overspending.

Exploring the subject of the fiscal debt and how taxes and tax revenues play into Government money, Moore offers his suggestions for remedying the tax situation and his support of a flat tax.  The flat tax is “a tax system with a constant tax rate.” Moore offers his warnings and advice regarding the rapidly dwindling social security, medicare and medicaid money storehouse.

Ending the conversation on the politics and economic policies of a changing America, Moore offers his suggestions for tax reforms so that the future generations will be okay as the economy changes and the fiscal debt remains enormous. Suggestions he offer viewers include:

• Don’t count on government benefits when you retire. Begin saving money at a young age.
• Rise up and take on politicians and tell them to stop spending enormously.

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01.11.09 – 1711

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On this program Stephen Moore joins Dennis McCuistion to discuss the shift from free trade to fair trade and the implications of the weak dollar.  He touches on the concern over China, Japan and countries in Middle East holding portions of the American national debt.  Stephen Moore is an economist and the Senior Editorial Writer for the Wall Street Journal.

The international economy is more competitive than it has been in the last 20 years.  Moore spends time discussing the importance of the tax plans in relation to the US economy and in keeping the US economy competitive with the international economy.  He goes into detail mentioning corporate tax, fair tax, death tax, estate tax, income tax, state tax, etc.

In discussing fair trade versus free trade, Moore contends for free trade as it holds down prices on things that are globally traded, thus keeping the prices down.

The implications of foreign countries funding the American debt is discussed in detail. Foreigners have had confidence in the US economy for years, thus trillions of dollars in foreign investments are a part of our national debt. If foreigners were to choose to switch to another currency, we could be in a serious crisis.

Guest, David Walker, former Comptroller General of the United States, offered his viewpoint on where the nation stands economically in regards to the weak dollar.  Moore follows his comments discussing the need for the U.S. to lesson off-shore oil drilling and take advantage of national resources.

They end the discussion stating that no country as ever gotten rich by devaluing their currency. Poor government policies have an affect on consumers, multi-national corporations and the world.

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1712 – 11.23.08

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Michael Strong, Chief Visionary Officer of Flow, joins Dennis McCuistion, host of the McCuistion Program, from Las Vegas, PBS Channel 10, during the Freedom Fest conference held there each summer. Flow is a non-profit organization started 5 years ago with John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods. Flow focuses on liberating the entrepreneurial spirit for good and believes entrepreneurship and business can solve global problems. Mr. Strong cites companies from Whole Foods to Southwest Airlines that have a mission of doing good and tells us that there is a market driven demand for companies to incorporate social responsibility in their corporate mission.

Mr. Strong advises that non-profits be more entrepreneurial and tells us the strict charity model is now becoming more entrepreneurial in its focus as charities realize that the  old way of ” begging,” is no longer a  productive model  for  accomplishing  the organization’s mission.

Adapting external social responsibility agendas seldom work. Missions that comes from within and that are congruent with the organization’s values offer  more efficacy.  Missions that coincide with the organization’s  are naturally  more effective. In addition, “do-gooder” missions often positively affect the bottom line.

Michael Strong began his entrepreneurial career as an anti-capitalist. While at  the University of Chicago, he became increasingly convinced that the best way to make a positive impact in society was through business. He believes  that the market can in fact  create prosperity and peace.

Strong furthers the discussion on social responsibility in business by addressing the value of property rights in relation to poverty alleviation.  Also included in this segment are Strong’s views on environmentalism, political allegiance, regulatory agencies and the effect of unemployment rates of young men on peace.

If you’d like to learn more of Michael Strong’s thoughts and view points regarding social responsibility in business, peace and prosperity, you can visit his blog. If you’d like to become more involved with what Flow is doing, please visit the website to learn more.

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11.09.08 – 1720

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