American Shareholders Association

What the Democrats Have Planned For Your 401(k)

2008-11-18T17:24:10-05:00

Here's a very good breakdown: Automatic enrollment plan. Under the Obama proposal, employers that do not currently offer a retirement plan would be required to enroll their employees in a direct-deposit IRA account that is compatible to existing direct-deposit payroll...

One in Ten Americans in HSA-Compatible Health Plan

2008-11-18T17:19:52-05:00

Some 4.2 million adults 21 to 64 are in a consumer-directed health plan, equivalent to 3% of the population, according to Washington-based EBRI’s 2008 Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey. That is up from 2% of the population in 2007....

On the National Journal Blog: "Is Obama's Stimulus Plan Good for the Economy?"

2008-11-18T17:14:08-05:00

Here's my answer: Let's see: Obama wants to raise the marginal tax rate on two-thirds of small business income and the lion's share of wages to a rate perhaps approaching 50 percent (when the higher individual income tax and Social...

Are You Better Off Than You Were 40 Years Ago

2008-11-17T17:14:00-05:00

Veronique de Rugy thinks so: In 2005, a full 85 percent of households that were classified as poor by the Census Bureau had air conditioning (compared to only 36 percent in 1971) Some 97 percent had a color television (compared...

ASA Now a Contributor to National Journal Econ Blog: "Should Washington Bail Out Detroit?"

2008-11-17T17:10:00-05:00

Here's my answer:Absolutely not. The unionized auto sector has spent decades caving into the excessive salary, pension, and health benefit demands of the UAW. Just last year they signed a health care "VEBA" (i.e., union slush fund) which everyone knew...

ATR Formally Requests All the Bailout Cash; Wants to Eliminate the Cap Gains/Dividends Tax, Cut Corp Rate

2008-11-17T17:06:00-05:00

Today, ATR formally requested all $700 billion in TARP bailout money from the Treasury.With this money, Americans for Tax Reform's Grover Norquist proposes turning right around and cutting taxes (giving the money back to the people who gave it in...

Health Care Spending To Climb to 30% of Entire Economy

2008-11-14T12:18:51-05:00

According to Health Affairs, the United States spent 16 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on health expenditures in 2006. What will we be spending on health care in 2040? Robert Fogel, a researcher with the National Bureau of Economic...

73% of Americans Fear Government Will Run Out of Bailout Cash

2008-11-14T12:14:19-05:00

Sizable pluralities of Americans are opposed to taxpayer-backed bailouts of the Big Three automakers, with 73% now worried the U.S. government will run out of money with all the demands being made on the federal treasury in the current economic...

Majority of Americans Think Investing Is Still a Good Idea

2008-11-13T10:38:23-05:00

It's safe to say that we're probably at a bottom when it comes to general confidence in equity markets. That's why a new Rasmussen poll is so encouraging: Despite Wall Street’s highly publicized problems, a majority of U.S. voters (54%)...

Employer 401(k) Contributions Declining

2008-11-13T09:58:28-05:00

Hopefully, this is only a temporary trend:What does this trend signify for employee savings behavior? Academic studies show that the existence of a 401(k) match increases contribution rates among employees, but the research doesn't address what happens when a match...