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October 5, 2004
PRESS RELEASE
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Editorial inquiries,
contact:
George Anderson
908-709-1690
geoanderson@retailwire.com
Retail
Industry Seeks Answers From Candidates
A
new USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll shows President George
W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry are in a virtual deadlock
following the first of their three Presidential debates.
Debate number one from Miami, Fla. concentrated on foreign
policy issues.
This
Friday, October 8, the candidates will square off in
their second meeting and, this time, domestic policy
is the topic of debate.
RetailWire
(www.retailwire.com),
the unique online news and analysis forum covering all
things retail, recently asked its 'BrainTrust' of industry
experts what questions they would have the candidates
address between now and election day.
Michael
E. Banks, Ph.D., co-founder of The MAP Agency, wanted
to ask Sen. Kerry about his plan for eliminating tax
cuts for the wealthiest of Americans. "Since most small
business owners fall into Kerry's definition of rich,
and since they pay taxes based on the personal income
tax tables, they would be among the hardest-hit by this
policy. Specifically, how would Kerry offset the extra
tax burden for these employers so they could continue
to grow and create jobs, and avoid laying off employees
and cutting re-investment into their businesses?"
Of
President Bush, Dr. Banks wondered if his administration
has an "integrated plan for maintaining a balanced approach
to retaining jobs while opening up new markets, is there
a scorekeeping mechanism to measure success, and are
there mid-course correction tools in place to minimize
negative developments (loss of jobs in the U.S.)?"
James
Tenser, principal of VSN Strategies and author of
Tenser's Tirades: Essays on the Dot-com Retail Phenomemon,
wanted to hear the candidates' plans for reversing the
budget deficit and whether they were considering a "readjustment
of the tax code" to "make the system more fair for more
Americans."
RetailWire
has compiled a list of questions based on input of its
BrainTrust and registered members to send to the candidates.
Here are some of the issues the retail community would
like see addressed.
1.
What role should government have in business?
2.
How will the government pay for new or expanded federally
funded programs, in light of the current budget deficit?
3.
What is your plan for addressing the healthcare crisis?
How will it be paid for?
4.
What will you do to insure that free trade is also
fair trade?
5.
How will you address the devaluation of the dollar
in international markets?
6.
What is your view on the minimum wage?
7.
What is your position on estate taxes?
8.
What is your position relative to various taxation
scenarios including the current "progressive income
tax"; the "flat tax" and the "Value Added Tax (VAT)?
Which would you push for America and why?
9.
What are your views on eminent domain?
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The
complete RetailWire.com discussion forum entitled "Let
The Debating Begin" can be viewed at: http://www.retailwire.com/discussions/sngl_discussion.cfm/10160
###
About RetailWire.com
RetailWire is a unique
online news analysis and discussion forum, which launched
in February 2002. RetailWire goes beyond conventional
headline news reporting. Each business morning, RetailWire
editors pick news topics worthy of commentary by its
"BrainTrust" panel of industry experts, and the general
RetailWire membership. The results are virtual round
tables of industry opinion and advice covering key dynamics
and issues affecting the retailing industry.
Membership to RetailWire
is free to all qualified retail industry professionals.
Over two-thirds of members are in top executive or senior
management positions, representing a broad cross section
of retail channels and the companies that supply them.
RetailWire is supported
via sponsorships by leading retail suppliers and service
organizations. Sponsorship packages take the form of
information-rich "Business TIPS." Current sponsors
include Campbell Soup, ACNielsen, Unilever HP, Procter
& Gamble, Slim-Fast, and NCR.
For general business
inquiries, contact:
Rick Moss
973-744-0813
moss@retailwire.com
For sponsorship
information, contact:
Al McClain
203-609-0557
amcclain@retailwire.com
Editorial inquiries,
contact:
George Anderson
908-709-1690
geoanderson@retailwire.com
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