Obama care only applies to businesses with over 50 employees... most mom and pop "small business" don't have nearly that many... and even then it is not required, you are just pay a tax if you don't.

Is 13 cents a pizza really to much of a price hike to cover all full time papa johns employees health care, if it is i suggest you start cooking at home, or dive in your couch for some change.

The brand perception of Papa John's, Applebee's and Denny's took a beating after high-ranking representatives of the companies said Obamacare would force them to stop building restaurants, cut worker hours and raise prices.

This is an economically fundamental truth, something the Obama followers loath. Many other restaurant chains echo this truth, albeit a bit quieter. The coming months will see a steady increase of the unemployment rate that will be consistent with a country in decline.

If you don't want to provide employees with health insurance get behind single payer.

It takes the load off of business without the massive administrative expenses that the insurance industry will bring under the ACA.

Plus cutting everyone to part time (under 30 hours a week in the legislation), would increase pay roll expenses to have more people to man the same labor hours...

These CEOs are just making empty threats, and it will cost them more in lost business than to comply with the legislation.

MireV03, I don't see how cutting hours per employee will increase payroll expenses. If you have all your employees making the same thing and the same hours need to be covered by the same amount of people, that makes no sense or I am missing something. Also the price increase per pizza isn't a big deal. It is the costs that ALL these types of companies are going to pass onto the consumer. No, 13 cents isn't a big deal but when everyone raises their prices it is unless you make more. Which you won't because hours will be cut.

Agreed, and you will see fewer qualified people vying for those jobs, because they won't be able to live on what they're making. Enter the hs dropout who is now serving you, instead of a college student trying to pay for college.

What amazes me is how just how stupid you are, with an absolute absence of logical thought process. I make 6 figures and my insurance is provided by my employer and it goes up every year. Why? Because people without insurance still get sick and still go to the doctor and hospital emergency rooms. They just can't pay. That is considered a bad debt expense and then people who do pay, pay more. I know your tiny little mind can't grasp this but we are already paying for people without insurance. There is NEVER a free lunch, it is simply a matter of providing it efficiently. Obama care is a starting point that is all. Preventive care, healthy life styles and tort reform are all places we now have to work on, amongst others. My insurance, meaning me, have subsidized the Walmarts the Papa Johns for a long time anyway.

I'm just wondering how Papa Jerks' gonna cook the books to offset the million pizzas that he will be giving away with the Peyton Manning advertisement. Oh wait: wasn't that two million pizzas? And if each pie is even $6 per, with a basic insurance package costing $200 per month, Papas' could cover 5000 employees for an entire year with those "free" pizzas. Of course, using this as a write-off, he'll probably just pocket the money and lay off those 5000 workers.

Yeah, and those ERs are free to everyone! No cost at all! Why, the staff all donate their time to take care of those that cannot or will not pay!

Well, I guess if the right has no valid argument they can just pretend like they are making cogent points...

Small business will be forever changed with the advent of Obamacare.

The current law requires employer participation in a company health plan if they have

one to provide subsidies to anyone making over 39 hours per week.

Under Obama care this number drops to 39 hours per week.

Wouldn't it be better to wait until Obamacare is effective before making statements. No one really knows what effect this is going to have. Remember, it is up to the insurance companies to provide the affordable insurance; not the government.

Not only that, when I found out that Bain owns Burger King, that one got crossed off my list, too.

There are too many other companies with moral standards to let these creeps get away with it. Now, when my group gets together and someone suggests pizza, none of us will go with PJ. We order from Johnny's New York style, or some local business. If this Schnauzer guy will come out and admit he is an ass and will mend his ways, I'd reconsider.

Hard: do you have figures on that, like from the CBO or other mostly neutral source? My understanding is that we will be saving substantial amounts when all parts are phased in.

I'm tired of my taxes sublidising these cheap-a$$ companies that cannot pay a livable wage to any of their employees. I have no sympathy for them, nor do I patronize them - Wall Mart included.

Oh they'll stop building new restaurants alright, but not because of Obamacare. Think we didn't notice you and your mouth? Think again.

Dan is correct . . . Obamacare is the best, and only, effort to solve the broken US medical system. I've been to emergency rooms twice in the past 5 years and witnessed the lengthy line of "free" clients. You and I paid for them. They weren't free at all. Romney knew this also, hence the effort to establish RomneyCare in Mass., written in large part by the right wing Heritage Foundation. These lying hypocrites know that we can only solve the the looming disaster in the medical care system with something akin to universal health care. But politics and the desire to win over the moron vote dictate that they simply lie to the fools in their party.

As for the bastards at these companies who will do anything to ensure their employees get the minimal amount of benefits? I won't buy there -- Papa John, Applebee, Dennys. The sad reality that these morons don't seem to get is that the service industry has nothing to worry about from competition with foreign suppliers. So why the 18th century robber baron behavior? No more complicated than they are nasty, greedy bastards. As for other industries? Employees around the world are demanding better working conditions. American shoppers are getting smarter about rewarding pricks who can't see past their greed. Expect to see more companies going out of business because they deserve to fail.

It won't matter that they can't afford to hire any new people because many of the income group who use restaurants like this will not be able to afford to eat there anyway. In the past month or so the cost of eating out has gone up, yet again. After the first of the year the SS break sunsets (not saying it shouldn't, just saying) which will put another damper in many people's pocket books. I have to admit, that extra $60 a month we had was often spent on small frivolities like going to Denny's or someplace similar every few months. Then of course we'll all have to start paying more for health insurance that some of us don't want in the first place, or pay a huge tax penalty.

Not only have their prices increased but often times quality is going down. The Denny's in our area usually has some of the best tasting food around but they've gone downhill lately. Another chain diner in our area recently served me a salad with rotten bits of lettuce in the mix.

I couldn't make a decision whether or not to patronize these businesses based on the simple statements being reported in this article. I need more information. For example, what are the "earnings" of these companies' upper management positions? Does the CEO of Denny's take home a reasonable amount or is it a multi-million dollar salary plus even more millions in bonuses? In other words, can these companies afford more employees or will they simply refuse based on principle and to keep the top tier in gravy? Otherwise my decision to use these businesses will be based on price and quality of what they serve.

What kind of thriving business doesn't want to grow? Give the employees fewer hours and they go discontent and by the way, they have more time to find businesses that want to prosper.

So many businesses are failing because they have become too selfish, self-destructive and too negative.

I am doing my homework and looking about. Right now, there are a lot of corporation like Papa John's that may very well fail and be right for taking over and turning into something great again.

Keep your employee's happy, informed, and motivated and they doing miraculous things for you. You just have to have faith in them so that they will have faith in you. A lesson from above!

There was a point in time when you could count on your employer to provide benefits for working for them. We have come so far away from that point, so rich CEOs can continue to get a pay increase each year and a kid with recurring strep throat can cost a family so much that they have to chose whether to get their child medical care or pay rent this month. No sympathy for these companies moaning and wailing that they will lose some money because they have to be forced to do the right thing.

I prefer to spend money at businesses that provide decent wages and benefits for their workers. If we just want cheap prices and high profits, we should just let Chinese or Mexican guest workers come and work for pennies on the dollars.

If your business model relies on treating employees like garbage, its not a very good business model.

But this is just symptomatic of much (not all) of the management at US companies. They don't value workers at all.

So the CEO of Papa Johns is worried about adding $.15 to the cost of a pizza? How about the 2 million free ones he and his paid endorser Peyton Manning are giving away? Charge the additional money and give your employees health care for God's sake.

So you don't want a business owner to tell you why they are having to cut hours and employees? When the costs of business increase then businesses must find WHERE the costs are coming from and find a way to reduce. You can't reduce tax RATES and variable and directly related costs (like ObamaCare) so you must cut the AREA in which these costs are increasing.

So when Papa John's tells you WHY they have to cut hours or employees why would that affect the PERCEPTION of the company? Do you think the companies that are NOT speaking out loud aren't having to do the SAME cuts in their companies?

I am a business consultant and I am seeing dozens a week cutting employees and cutting hours due to ObamaCare. Just because they are not saying it publicly does not mean it is not happening.

I know one company that BEFORE the election had 52 employees (Note: less than 50 employees and the mandates for ObamaCare are not applicable) and told me BEFORE the election he doesn't want to cut his staff but if Obama is reelected, and ObamaCare looks like it will be implemented, he already had the names of the three employees he would have to let go. One week AFTER the election three employees were told they would have to be released. About 6 weeks before Christmas and three people lost their jobs because of ObamaCare.

So you can say all you want that ObamaCare will save money and you can say all you want that ObamaCare will not force companies to layoff workers but it is happening as we speak. Daily companies are now laying off workers to prepare for this MASSIVE tax increase called ObamaCare - and only the uninformed STILL don't see it...........

Want employer paid benefits? Get educated or learn a trade, and get a better job. That's what I did. Just takes sacrifice and hard work. Wal-Mart, Papa John's and Denny's jobs aren't meant to support entire families. But, if that is where you work, then you can work hard, become a manager, and make a salary and get benefits. Exactly when did the concept of working hard for the rewards fall out of vogue?

@hardtostarboard said:

" The unintended consequences of this law will be devastating to the economy."

...which is exactly what corporate America cried when:
1) minimum wage was instituted.

2) child labor was outlawed.

3) the 8 hour work day was introduced.

4) paid vacations were implemented.

5) worker safety regulations were mandated.

Et cetera, et cetera, so forth and so on. You'd think we'd be a third world economic wasteland by now if we listened to all the fear mongering and bluster from Big Business over the years. But guess what? Businesses survived. Ya wanna know what guys like Papa John are pitching a fit? I'll let Jon Stewart explain:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-13-2012/post-democalyptic-world---whine-country

and

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-13-2012/post-democalyptic-world---whine-country---employee-benefits

Of course it does. That's why I don't shop at JC Penney's anymore.

@ProBusiness:

I am a business consultant and I am seeing dozens a week cutting employees and cutting hours due to ObamaCare. Just because they are not saying it publicly does not mean it is not happening.

Then the companies you consult are ran by greedy, incompetent cowards.

I own three businesses, two of which are affected by OC, and I sit on the board of two others, both affected. None of us are laying off anyone.

Two of the businesses offered health care already, and OC will actually SAVE us money on what we already offer.

The other two are headed by folks who can actually can do math—something conservatives are obviously incapable of doing well (see: Romney campaign.) For example, employee satisfaction rates increased 87% when our other companies added health care. Attendance increased, workers logged more hours, and the sheer peace of mind attributed to an overwhelmingly positive work environment.

What about profits? We posted a 14% increase in net profits the first year AFTER incurring the additional costs of our current health care plan. We attribute that in a large part to the health care plan and the boost in workmanship mood and efficiency. The management teams on the two other companies were able to see this and, unlike your small-minded idiot clientele, are looking to expand, not contract from an employment position. The model our other organizations have is clearly working.

But conservatives just don't get this, nor do they give a s*it if their employees are happy and thriving. They (you) are so f*cking near-sighted, all they (you) can see is the P&L for a given month or quarter. Real businesses look at the bigger picture.

I suggest you look for another job. I know we'd never hire you.

Perhaps Applebee's is hiring...

(P.S. On a side note, I think Applebee's not building another store is wonderful news. Talk about crap on a cracker. The irony of these "food" chains is the fact they're all the dogsh*t of their industries. So, their CEOs being greedy, penny-pinching buffoons doesn't surprise me much.)

If these companies did the right thing in the first place, Obamacare never would have been necessary. As far as I am concerned they can just go ahead and stop building new restaurants. Some new business will come alng and take their place. It's called capitalism.

Ahhh ProBusiness, once again the voice of reason and explaining in facts...Thank you. Unfortunately your left posters playing the class warfare and greedy evil corp cards do not know how to or want to reason using facts as long as they are getting their freebies from the 53%. What will they do when the resources of the 53% dwindles and can no longer pay for the 47%? Why they'll be in the streets like the good folks of Greece demanding the "lifestyle" to which they've become accustomed. Elections have consequences and you lefties haven't seen anything yet. Unfortunately the lesson you learn will be forced onto the rest of us that are responsible and accountable. @Jon those greedy and penny pinching CEO's are beholden to the stockholders, they invest money in ventures (that EMPLOY PEOPLE) to make money. Plain and simple. Do you put money in a savings account and tell them to "forego the interest"? Now who is the "Buffoon"?

Hey dottie, what will the 2% do when the rest of us will no longer mow their lawns and take out their trash. I can't imagine they know how to do it themselves. Nobody is looking for freebies, but if you want us to work, we want to be paid! If you want us to work, we want adequate access to healthcare. If you get 6 homes, we want at least one. Greedy, look in the mirror!

A business consultant? I thought you taught college-level economics, ProBusiness.

Anyway, clearly Obamacare is not the solution. A single-payer system is. Other developed countries have single-payer systems and spend a lesser percentage of their GDP on health, with healthier populations than ours. There is no reason why the U.S. shouldn't have the greatest healthcare system in the world. There is no reason why we shouldn't have universal, single-payer healthcare to put the Canadians, the French, and the Australians to shame.

Most of you losers don't EVER 'eat out' because you're home on welfare trying to pay your cell phone bill.

Funny thing about eating out is that it's pure lazy. I eat out when I don't want to make a grocery list, drive to the store, stand in line, drive back home, make a mess in the kitchen and then, finally, eat. Then clean the dishes and the kitchen. Face it, you're lazy. I can cook a surf and turf as easy as the dude at McCormick's and so could you if you weren't so lazy.

Jon:

I don't know about what business you are in (or whether you even own a business) but anybody with the IQ at least 10 points above a turnip understands that if the cost of business increases then the business must find a way to reduce that exposure. I think your nasty responses and comments about other CEO's and businesses confirm you don't actually own a business because anybody with that type of attitude, first, can't keep employees with that type of attitude and, second, can't keep customers with that type of attitude.

Regardless of your lack of understanding of how a business works there is and even more amazing lack of understanding of economics. ObamaCare has BUILT INTO the law an additional 3.5% tax on those making $250,000 or more which most small business owners do. Second, effective Jan 1st (regardless of this whole "fiscal cliff" debate) there is an ADDITIONAL 2.3% Medical Device tax that will be passed along to the consumer and the insurance companies. And, third, insurance premiums have increased from 10% to 15% LAST year and projected at 15% to 20% THIS year.

Who is going to PAY this? Not the business owner - they can't afford the opportunity cost. So the consumer pays for it (and WILL pay for it) with higher prices and lower wage increases (for the lucky ones who have not lost their jobs).

Listen, I don't have to get into a debate. All we have to do is "wait and see" but just look at the last month of First Time Unemployment Claims (and wait to see what comes out Thursday morning) and look at the Employment Situation Reports over the next six months. Tell me I am wrong now because you somehow have convinced yourself you are right - but you are not: it is already happening but the evidence will be the next 6 months.

And six months from now you will blame the stagnant economy and unemployment rate on something else (you will try to pin the blame on Republicans) but the markets are clear and the businesses are clear: An Obama administration is a danger to entrepreneurs and business success and the next 6 months will confirm that.

Taking care of your employees = happy employees = cheerful employees = happy customers = good business. Screwing your employees = unhappy employees = high employee turnover = inexperienced employees = incompetant employees = unhappy customers = poor business.

Hey Probusiness,

So I guess we just continue to screw the employees, right. I have been working at a small company for over 2 years. During that time, my insurance contribution has gone up by 30 percent. Why do you think that is the case? It is because the cost of insurance keeps going up each year. Each year, millions of Americans go to the ER and do not pay a dime because they cannot afford it. You and I pick up the tab. Obamacare will help to eliminate these outrageous costs. Why do you think Obama moved $750 billion in Medicare? It was taken from the healthcare provider costs (which were overpayments for procedures in many cases)(United Health, BCBS, KaiserP and others) and placed within the realm of beneficiaries.

Also, having been a business owner for many years, I will tell you that when you treat your employees as "people" and not just a "number" you get better results.

After reading some of your posts, you sound like Mr. Scrooge.

BUH WHa Ha ha...

In 1967 it was revealed that HUNT-WESSON Foods was

up to their eyeballs in support for LBJ's illegal war in SE Asia

& a boycott was called for by the Student nonviolent Coordinating committee.....

I STOPPED buying their products...as did several of my friends

45years later and they STILL haven't gotten ONE DIME out of me...

how many bottles of Katsup in 45 years ?

did it break them? NO

Have I screwed them?

you damned right I have

and I'll continue to do so until I assume room temperature with a smile on my face .

NOT ONE DAMNED DIME FOR PAPA JOHN, DENNYS or the rest of them either

not since October 2012 or EVER again !!

You will pay for the uninsured one way or another. Look into how much taxpayer money goes towards the uninsured every year. It's astronomical.

Besides, as fat and disgusting as many Americans are we could do without Papa Johns and Denny's altogether. Papa John's is the worst pizza on the market. Blech!

I read somewhere the average pizza place spent 50% on food, 25% on labor and overhead and had around 25% profit. On a $15 pizza that's $3 profit. An additional cost of 11c to 15c is pretty minor. I do believe no company should have full time employees who make so little they qualify for food stamps and medicaid. Whether our tax dollars go to providing medicaid for these people or making the employer pay for it we still end up paying. If all employers pay it none have an advantage.

Pat, in 2014 you will be able to get a policy through the ins exchanges where the ins company wont be able to a)deny you coverage due to pre existing conditions, b)exclude coverage for the pre existing conditions. your deductible will be capped and many preventative services will be covered IN FULL with no deductible or co-insurance or copays due.

Oh and the exchanges will offer plans where the risk is spread over the large pool of people buying on the exchanges (just like group employer group insurance is) so the premiums will be lower.

And because more people will be covered less will get thier only medical treatment at the ER and then not pay the bill meaning medical providers wont have their uncompensated care costs keep skyrocketing at the same rate they do now and thus the costs in general wont go up as much. Check with your local hospital what their bad debt ratio is as a percentage of gross receivables is. You will be VERY surprised about the amount.

and LASTLY there will be subsidies to help cover the cost of the insurance policy or if you make too little you will get Medicaid. (which wont cost you anything)

Hmm I think maybe you should read up on the Healthcare law instead of listening to Faux news for information on the law.

. In the past month or so the cost of eating out has gone up, yet again.

far more an effect of the sharply increased grain and other food prices caused by the drought, or haven't you been paying attention?

Actually, Genenut, I did not get my information from the news as you presume. I'm here on MSNBC's website if you haven't noticed so why the faux news comment. I'm an Independent, I don't take the word as gospel from any news organization so I would appreciate you not assuming to know where and what news I subscribe to.

Read this from NPR, hardly a conservative media venue. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/04/28/135800784/emergency-room-doctors-say-health-law-will-make-er-crowding-worse

As I stated before, my biggest fear is what is the government going to do about those people who will not participate in the exchanges regardless since the cost of the fine is cheaper and will buy insurance when they absolutely need it? That will definitely create a revenue problem to make it work like they assume it will. So just as I sat in Urgent Care, there surely will be people still going to emergency rooms. You are kidding yourself if you think otherwise. And where are they getting the extra primary care physicians for those who do have insurance like myself? These are legitimate questions.

I got my information from the horse's mouth, my own doctor. He said they were having an awful time getting primary care physicians, everyone is going into specialty fields because of reduced costs received from medicare/medicaid and the malpractice insurance. The bill did not address tort reform or crossing state lines. Something I would have liked to have been included. One of my surgeons quit his practice and signed on at a teaching hospital because they gave him an offer he could not refuse. Pay his malpractice insurance. Once again, from the doctor himself. He told me he could not afford keep his private practice with the costs.

Also, sure, maybe I could get into an exchange, but at what price in quality? Even medicare doesn't cover everything and so many have to buy medicare advantage to supplement the cost. We have no clue how this insurance is going to effect the quality of doctor/patient treatment but from what I have already been experiencing, it's going to get worse, not better.

Obama said you would not have to give up your current insurance or your doctor. That is not true. That is already in play now, if your employer has to pass on rates to you and you have to decide on a lower plan that perhaps your doctor doesn't participate in well then what. It is not all cut and dry as you tidy up in your response. There are so many unanswered questions that should have been resolved prior to it's passing.

Pat, medicare advantage is a medicare REPLACEMENT plan (also called Medicare part C) not a medicare supplement proving you know VERY little about insurance. Maybe you should talk with an insurance agent or someone other than a doctor who knows diddlycrap about how insurance really works.

the exchanges will be open to EVERYONE. Again you need to read on the law and the exchanges since you have no fing clue what the policies will look like. the ACA defines a basic policy requirements for coverage including max deductibles and coverage percentages.

As to premiums going up and your employer passing that cost on to you... well thats been going on for a decade. wake up and see reality.

Obviously you are really a republicant or a greedy arse. No way you are a true independent since you swallowed the republicant lines like gospel truth.

...and how convenient is it that Prez-0's union buddies got a waiver to avoid participation in the ACA...

well gee-whiz comrade, why would that be?

maybe because union employees don't have to worry about having health insurance?

naahh, makes way too much sense for the right-wing trolls to comprehend.

You'd think we'd be a third world economic wasteland by now if we listened to all the fear mongering and bluster from Big Business over the years. But guess what? Businesses survived.

Exactly! Businesses will complain about every little expense. In this case, the obligation is placed on all businesses with 50 or more employees. So, they're all in the same boat, and no one business will be at a disadvantage compared to the others. They should just shut up.

But, you know, I don't mind paying another $0.13 per pizza if it means that the restaurant's employees have insurance. I won't even notice it.

Don't get me wrong, the system was broke, but I'm afraid in this case the solution is far worse than had they done nothing at all.

First how in hell would you know that? So lets see you post why! Not just idle gossip or in this case troll bait. Funny thing about this is there are many detractors but no one has come up with a better solution. Won't work. It has worked in Mass. for years.....

This bill has been worked on for over 20 years and the fillerbuster laden right wing has fought it tooth and nail every since its inception while HC costs have risen 15-20% per year while they feasted on not only the HC but also the insurnace end of it. Is it perfect? No can it be fixed of course. Get real here. We cannot go on when what used to be a caring affordable entity we all need (health care) is taken over by a bunch of bleeders like we have now.

These same people did not have a problem spending over a billion dollars trying to get their yes man in the WH which would have paid for their expenses in this for years.

It seems like to me that the rich keep getting richer and the rest of us are just trying to get by. What happened to a country that was known for helping each other out? Since when was it them against us? I think we need to overhaul our political system and then maybe we can start getting along with each other and helping out or neighbors/friends. I remember a time when people cared about what happened to each other and that has seemed to go to the wayside.

Happy employees make for happy customers which make for happy owners because they get more money in their pockets. Quit screwing over the less fortunate than you and then let's see what will happen in this country.

You will see more employees, with less working hours and a reduction in building and expansion.

In case you haven't noticed, this has already been the case since even before 2007. These cut backs in the work force and full time employees are not new and had absolutely nothing to do with ACA healthcare period. Corporations are simply using healthcare as a scapegoat for the actions they have already stricken their current work forces with for the past six years.

That's what we, the salaried class, have been bitching about for the past 6 years. Our pays were cut. The raises stopped. Our healthcare payments and deductions keep increasing while the coverage has dwindled. Vacation and sick days were capped while we were forced to lay off as many as 75% of our work force and lower the work week hours of the non salaried and those of us that were salaried were and are still forced to not only pick up the slack the lay offs incurred, but to also improve the standards of our companies.

These actions were put in place even before the Obama administration and well before the ACA bill was passed so come on corporate america, put your blames where they belong and that is on your own backs. Corporate profits and executive pays have been historical for more than 6 years and that is simply because they have constantly taken from their work force and given to their executives and share holders.

In 2015 or 2016 when the economy is dead and the US is broke, it will still be "Bushs fault".

In 2015 or 2016 when the economy is dead and the US is broke, it will still be "Bushs fault".

and what will you cry when the economy starts steaming ahead? its taken a long time to recover from the disaster of the Bush administration and the right-wing zealots running it.

Long before Mr.Bush's presidency. Try trickle down ecoripoff. Just saying.

PROBUSINESS - Don't even try to have an intelligent conversation with people like JON or markwills who represent a liberal mindset with heads so far up their asses it would take a bulldozer to get them out. You have pretty much summed up what small AND big business owners are doing across the nation in response to Obamacare AND the impending tax increases - cutting staff or closing down before they lose everything. I KNOW, I AM one of those business owners that has been forced to cut full-time staff about 15% and only consider part-time staff to fill in holiday tempo. I have also made a red-line figure in my net annual earnings, and when THAT is reached I will probably close my business, release my remaining 92 workers, and become a retired private citizen. I didn't invest my life-savings into a business to go broke or become a Santa Claus. I also STILL eat at Denny's, Pizza Hut, and a bunch of other restaurants regardless of what they say because I still believe in freedom of speech and the free enterprise system. If people on this blog are NOT a business owner, then they are pretty much just spewing methane out of their rear-ends when it comes to really understanding the assault many of us have been put under by government since Obama was elected, and PLEASE don't invoke blame on Bush, my tax records for pre-Bush and post-Bush tell the story.

@markwills - exactly how stupid are you? The ACA is supposed to apply to ALL Americans.
...your inner-city public education is showing...

ProBusiness (1.33): I'm a little confused...you stated that the cost of insurance to the employee would go up 10+% because of Obamacare. I work for a very large company....yes, the portion of my insurance DID go up, but it only went up 3%, which is about what it has done each year since I started working here. My company also hasn't laid off anyone or downgraded anyone to part time. As for the Medical Device Tax....that's only for companies (like mine) that manufacture medical devices. Yes, we expect our customers to pay a portion of that; however, inflation goes up every year, which means prices ALSO go up every year no matter what. This 3% is not stopping our customers (hospitals, medical centers, doctor's offices, etc.) from purchasing the equipment that they need to take care of their patients.

I think I have to agree with Jon's analogy.....yours is extremely flawed. And, to say that Jon has no knowledge of what he's talking about is ludicrous at best....how do we know YOU know what you're talking about?

Wow, Mr. Job Creator. That sounds like the entrepreneurial spirit. I thought you 1%'ers would tug those bootstraps to the moon! When will the trickle down get to you?

I wonder if those CEO's have insurance

Bottom line is business will do whatever it needs to do to make a profit. I know liberals hate companies making profits but in this case this will likely mean increased fees, lower wages, and increasing the amount employees must contribute for their share of the insurance. I do think employers should provide insurance for employees. However certainly you all know the employer does not have to pay for all of the insurance under Obamacare. I do think this will likely lead to fewer low income families getting hired. ObamaCare provides strong incentives for firms to avoid hiring workers from low-income households. Eligibility for subsidized insurance in the exchanges is based on household income, and firms can be penalized if one of their workers gets subsidized coverage in an exchange. Thus, firms have a strong incentive to find workers who won’t qualify for subsidized coverage, which may also lead to invasions of privacy. any low income people already in a subsidized exchange will be penalized. The very people you think you are helping may be the very people that will find it hard to get a job.

MireV03

Obama care only applies to businesses with over 50 employees... most mom and pop "small business" don't have nearly that many... and even then it is not required, you are just pay a tax if you don't.

Is 13 cents a pizza really to much of a price hike to cover all full time papa johns employees health care, if it is i suggest you start cooking at home, or dive in your couch for some change.

For one thing, it will be a lot more than 13 cents a pizza, the price will be about 25% higher which will knock out all larger competitors. For another thing, when companies reach that 50 employee threshhold, they just won't hire any more employees or have them work "under the table". For another thing this is not just pizza, it will be every service and product purchased when we are already losing about 70 cents on every dollar earned in all the various forms of taxes. That will knock a lot of people out of a job, and prevent future hiring, and everything we purchase will take a giant leap in price.

You expect the very organization, our government, that paid $8,000 per screwdriver even back in the seventies to run efficiently ?

I think all tax should be rolled back to 10% of sales for the fed, and 5% of sales for the states. Everyone will be keeping their money, spending their money, and our economy will boom like we haven't seen since colonial days. 15% of all sales should be more than enough to run our government, and force them to live within a budget for a change like the rest of us, and everybody will have a job.

I know liberals hate companies making profits

standard right wing, nonsensical statement

makessense-7131188

This make perfect sense for example, a business has to pay a % percentage of futa, suta, and fica on the first 8500 an employee makes so with more employees that means more tax.

im not a cheapskate or a coward. ill gladly pay five percent more to know the employess serving me dont have to choose between going to the doctor or paying rent and hacking on my food. life is getting what you give.

And, of course, strategies to pass that cost onto consumers in order to protect our shareholders' best interest.

Last time I check, your duty was to your customers. What a douche CEO. Congrats sir, you've now made it easy for me when im trying to choose between Papa John's or Pizza Hut when i'm hungry.

Wow you forgot to mention where the UNIONS put their millions of dollars confiscated from their members? Hint -- the dem coffers in exchange for more favorable union rules. Can any of you at least admit that it works BOTH ways. And those greedy corps and hedgefund managers that contributed to BO and cronies? hhhmmmmmmm ring ring -- it's the pot call for the kettle

lol, you're funny. Unions made this country great, and will continue to do so. Before Unions, people worked ridiculous hours in unsafe conditions and were paid unfair wages. So, of course they support Democrats, Republicans only want to f*ck the average worker out of a living. Everything from minimum wage to taxes, it only makes sense to put your money where it best serves the interests of the worker.

That's right Allenjames, because it's clear to anyone with more than 2 neurons firing that universal healthcare in any form destroys democracies. That's why every other developed country on the planet has adopted the concept. And since union membership in America is below 15%, it clearly makes sense that unions can out-contribute the top 1% of income earners in this country.

Take Germany or Sweden for example, both of whom have that filthy socialist healthcare that you mention, never mind extremely high union membership. It's clear to anyone who watches Fox News that those countries are going the way of the Dodo, drowning in their own misguided economic miscalculations. (That's a 5 syllable word you can find in a dictionary)

Clearly, the way forward is to ensure that no-one but the employer (praise be his/or her name) be permitted to receive anything other than minimum wage, and that corporations (with the assistance of occasional multi-million dollar bailouts from our government) always know what's in the best interest of their workers.

Finally, it cannot be really true that someone receiving healthcare can return to work and contribute to the national economic reality (That's a 3 syllable word that you can also find in a dictionary, though not in Texas), can it?

Shouldn't sick people just put a gun to their head and save us all money? Especially if they belong to a union? Please let me know - I crave your wisdom.

Sitting here eating a Papa John's Pizza. Interesting article. There were 8 people in line ahead of me to pick up their order... I don't think sales have been hurt that much. Pizza tastes the same... MMMM, mmmmm, GOOOOOD!!!

Before Unions, people worked ridiculous hours in unsafe conditions and were paid unfair wages.

Yep, unions are great!!! I am a testimonial! Worked for 20 years as a union worker. I make more now simi-retired than I did when I was paying my dues. They tell me that we got to keep the prices high so they can keep sending me a check... I say raise the prices!!! Pay me more!!!! Pizza is SOOOO good tonight!!!

Maybe Papa should unionize and charge $20 for a pie rather than $10!!! You'd pay it, LOL!!!

This survey is BS. There are many tv and movie stars that open their mouths to say they favor or don't favor a political action and they still make millions of dollars.

As far as some executive making a statement in favor or against a political position and the publics free exercise to buy or not buy their products, that is ridiculous.

Millions of Americans buy products from China every day when they know that choosing Chinese goods over American goods, put Americans out of work.

Same goes for Mexico. Mexico sends its citizens to the U.S. and harvests billions of dollars annually from the money its illegals send to Mexico. Americans continue to buy Mexican made products even though, Mexico pays its citizens a fraction of the wages Americans earns, actively encourages its citizens to sneak across the border and daily clamours for more "RIGHTS" for its products in the U.S.

Information for all of you, socialized medicine does not work. Canada, Australia and New Zealand all have socialized medicine and at the same time more than half their citizens have "PRIVATE HEALTH CARE PLANS". WHY???? Because socialized medicine does not deliver the services that they promise. One has to wait weeks for an appointment. You can not choose your doctor or shop around for different opinions. You cannot discuss your treatment with the socialized doctors. What they say you have no choice.

I lived in Australia and I had private health care. I had workers who complained that they could not get timely appointments or adequate health care. I took them to my private doctors and what would take several months, and would lose their services, I had them back at work in 1-2 weeks.

When socialized medicine hires second rate doctors or doctors directly out of medical school, they have to obey the rules of the system. When I went to doctors in Australia, I discussed my treatment and asked for second opinions and I got to see my doctors in a day or two.

You can't get that service with the socialized medicine system. You have to wait and if you want a second opinion, you have to pay a private doctor for it.

There are many ways to reduce the cost of private medicine but socialized medicine is not one.

Gee, I had an HMO and I couldn't shop around for doctors. I had to wait six months to see a specialist, todayopinion. Boy, it sure sounds like socialized medicine. I'll bet other citizens of industrialized countries, with national health care, are standing in line to see U.S. doctors! LMAO...

I am an American with private health care. I can't "shop around" for doctors, I get to go to the doctor my insurance provider tells me to. I can't get a second opinion, because they don't pay twice for the same treatment. I wait weeks for all appointments, unless it's an emergency, in which case I pay out the nose in deductibles and copays. I suppose I could, theoretically, discuss treatment options with my doctor, but they schedule appointments every 20 minutes so I feel lucky if he takes the time to say anything to me at all. I don't think the man would even know my name if it weren't on the chart. I suppose I could get another doctor, but then my insurance wouldn't cover it...how is this better than the evil socialized system you speak of? At least if it were a socialized system I wouldn't have to pay hundreds of dollars in extra fees every time I see a doctor on top of the hundreds of dollars I pay a month in premiums.

Dottie.....If you cannot see the value of unions, you are lost. Demanding safe working conditions, a living wage, healthcare, and a guaranteed pension that nobody can take from you should be every working Americans' right. If you are loyal and help make some company rich, they should not have the right to turn on you in your retirement, which is what is happening under these so-called 'private equity' firms, where the guys with the money walk away with ALL the money and those who worked all their lives building a pension got nuthin'....unless they were union. Are you saying it is the workers' fault? Dottie?

I wonder if Dottie is aware that only 8% of the private workforce is Unionized? What effect does the other 92% have - none? Does that say anything? Getting back to the article - Damn right I vote with my wallet. I have patronized these businesses before - it is unlikely I will in the future. - Here is something to think about - The right wingers use Prolife / Prochoice as a divisive issue in election campaigns. How many of these people will buy a Chinese made product without hesitation, without a thought that China practices FORCED abortions, sometimes INTENTIONALLY killing the baby during delivery! Oh! But now we are talking about a few bucks. Point is, make a political statement, expect a political backlash. AND if you vote with your dollars think about everything you buy.

HA HA...so many folks thinking we can NOT WORK AND PAY FOR EVERYBODIES HEALTHCARE AT THE SAME TIME!!.......lol....rofl....

Robbie-1584492

I am an American with private health care. I can't "shop around" for doctors, I get to go to the doctor my insurance provider tells me to. I can't get a second opinion,...

Quit whining and GROW UP 'Robbie'......

Quit whining and GROW UP 'Robbie'......

Says the guy who is responsible for this gem

A HA...so many folks thinking we can NOT WORK AND PAY FOR EVERYBODIES HEALTHCARE AT THE SAME TIME!!.......lol....rofl....

Say anything bad about the messiah and we will sick NBC after your ass!!

Sad day for true journalism being the lap dogs.

what kind of S for brains society have we turned into ? 11 cents to 14 cents per pizza is something to worry about ? Are you kidding me ? Eat the stupid pizza or not, pay the 14 cents or not. Who cares. I know, the 350 pounders will write how they eat 3 pizza's ata time and now we're talking real money. Better you should eat a salad anyway.

Gee, Rocky, the only ones I ever see referring to Obama as "messiah", etc., are right wing screwheads.

Grey Area has it right- and I never think anyone has it right. Well stated.

Company owners make mega-millions so to keep making mega-millions they won't give their workers health insurance because it cost too much.

To keep making mega-millions they kill unions so they can lower wages because decent wages cost too much.

To keep making mega-millions, they hire as many tempts or part-time workers they can because hiring a full time permenant workforce cost too much.

The CEO makes mega-millions, those under him makes mega-millions, yet you will never hear them say their wages cost the company too much.

CEO's make somewhere between 20 and 50 million dollars a year, but all you will ever hear is that it is the people making 20 dollars an hour that is sending the company into bankruptcy which is why they must lower their pay. Think about it for a minute, people making 30k a year is too much for the company to handle, but the company's CEO making 50 million a year, the poor guy needs a raise.

Lower the front office top level people's pay just in half and they will still make mega-millions each year, and have plenty of money to expand, hire new people, and grow. but they will never do that because there is no amount of money they can make per year that will be enough.

Obamacare is not socialized medicine. The insurance companies still play a big roll in your insurance. The difference is that they now have to offer affordable to everybody. The insurance companies will be making more money and we will all have insurance. If one doesn't buy insurance (s)he will be taxed, like social security, so that when emergency care is needed the taxpayers aren't paying the bill.

Wow you forgot to mention where the UNIONS put their millions of dollars confiscated from their members? Hint -- the dem coffers in exchange for more favorable union rules. Can any of you at least admit that it works BOTH ways. And those greedy corps and hedgefund managers that contributed to BO and cronies? hhhmmmmmmm ring ring -- it's the pot call for the kettle

Dotties girl: Sorry but by far the vast majority of union members do support democrats because democrats don't demonize them. If you truly don't see the difference between a Union PAC that represents the views of millions of it's members and a PAC funded by 1 man spending 100's of millions to elect a man promising to cut his taxes by millions or billions a year then you're pretty sad.

I have been a union member for over 30 years and at no time has my labor organization confiscated monies for political donations from its membership. Furthermore I support my labor union donating to the Democratic Party because they not only support working people but also support labor unions. Labor organizations are strictly regulated under federal law and they have to account for every penny that comes from their general funds. You are a misguided idiot spreading lies.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand all have socialized medicine and at the same time more than half their citizens have "PRIVATE HEALTH CARE PLANS". WHY???? Because socialized medicine does not deliver the services that they promise.

Gee I will have to tell my friend who lives in Montreal that his socialized medicine doesn't work. When he found out how much my son's allergy/asthma medication cost me under my old insurance plan, he flipped out. Yes countries that have socialized medicine still have private insurance plans. They cover or supplement what the national healthcare system doesn't or doesn't fully cover.

Private insurance in Canada is extremely restricted, private clinics still cannot charge above the agreed upon fee schedule, unless they are treating uninsured or non Canadian citizens.

We have friends who are Canadian also. Colin's mother had cancer and under the socialized medical system in Canada had to wait six months to get treatment. They finally had her come to the US.

Hopefully after enough time has passed everyone will be able to actually see if the new healthcare tax works or not. If it is harmful for the country I would hope that people would stop insisting on being "right" and do the right thing and get rid of it. If it is a success, with people getting easier access to medical care and costs going down, then I would hope people would stop protesting it.

Ah, living in the land of delusion...

When you get a chance, read a little history. You'll probably be better off if you first turn off Fox News and/or Rightie Radio.

Your title should be" Lack of Truth" squad, because outside of you spreading blame to both parties, you ain't got anything correct! Bush the Younger took an economy that both had a balanced budget, and a surplus, and sent it into the deepest recession ever since the Great Depression! He initiated the economic downfall of almost the entire worlds' economy with his lack of regulation on the banks and Wall Street. He started two wars, which, with everything else going on, allowed the United States of Americas' debt to more than double, from just under 5 trillion dollars to over 10 trillion dollars, which is where it was at when Barack Obama stepped into office in 2009. Bush also raised the debt ceiling 6 times in 8 years, with a democratic congress, and not once did our nations' credit rating ever take a hit, like it did in 2011, when the Republicans held the national economy hostage, while they postured for political gain. It is tough to lead when you have to drag Congress with you every step of the way.

TruthlessSquad....should be RepublicanTalkingPointsSquad.

But those two seem incapable of admitting Obama's $6 trillion dollar spending spree. I guess we weren't supposed to find out about it until after Christmas.

Not that you'll listen of course but the deficit has actually gone down under Obama and the current budget is the lowest it's been since before Reagan was President...

Not that you'll listen of course.

OH MY GOD.......we can thank our public schools and "Progressive/Communist College for brain washing so many. mj-1451595 you are the perfect example. Get real. How about doing some real research in what you say and not just take the talking points of Progressive/Communist spit.

OH ....I'll NEVER eat at (fill in the blank). You losers don't ever eat out anyway!

Jeez paranoid much, Truthsquad?

Bush also raised the debt ceiling 6 times in 8 years,

It is 7 times actually.

Reagan raised the deficit the most, the Bush 1, then Bush 2, Clinton and Obama raised it at much lower percentage

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/07/29/283515/even-after-proposed-hike-reagan-increased-debt-ceiling-twice-as-fast-as-obama/?mobile=nc

As I do not like to play favorites here is Fox News on the subject

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/30/as-debt-ceiling-skyrockets-obama-no-longer-calling-bush-increases-unpatriotic/

It is good to read both sides. Which article is most informative on the deficit and debt ceiling?

First of all I don't eat at Papa John's because I am just as happy to get a frozen pizza and throw extra cheese on it.

Second Applebees changes their menu so frequently I find something I like not only is that item gone but the replacement is higher in price.

Third Denny's I am of mixed race and I do not eat there because I get bad service, if my mother goes who is white she gets great service, if I go with her we don't. Oh yes they said they don't do that any more but it still happens.

I don't care what the CEO says about their company, if I like the business I will shop there.

Unions have ruined the large companies in the US (Hosetess the most recent). All these ideas people "claim" they brought about would have come eventually any way unions just made it happen faster. I have belonged to 3 unions in my life, they wasted my dues on politcal campaings I did not agree with.

It doesn't matter how many times less this or that POTUS raised the debt ceiling it is how much they raised it too the current POTUS raised it too. He has gone spending crazy. It also seems he can not do math, even if you taxed people making $250K or more at 100% they still could not balance the budget. I did not drink the "Kool-aid" and vote for him before and I sure as S*** didn't vote for him now. He does not know what he's doing never did never will.

O'POTUS care will not work, I don't blame any company for saying they will reduce hours because of some new law they must follow so it cut costs or raises prices to defray the extra cost of O'POTUS care. They are after all in business to make a profit not loose money. Look at your new car, how many door locks are on it? It used to be at least 3, now you are luck if it's 2 many it is just 1. How much did that save per vehicle to remove two locks, probably at most a $1.00. However when every penny counts you bet a company will cut where they can.

Since F.D.R. had 3 terms a law was passed the president can only have two. The same should be said for all polictaly offices only two. That way there would be constant change and we would not have these career politicians and be stuck in this constant cycle.

It is unfortunate we got shafted with O'POTUS.

Azlan Lewis:

Wow, refreshing to see someone who makes sense and isn't a total partisan sheep. I'm sorry that you were treated like you were at Denny's. Prejudice rears it's ugly head in many ways and forms. It sounds like you are a better person to recognize the ignorance of some, rather than condemn all.

I have a relative who is a teacher and detests that she is forced to pay the union dues. While she sees them as somewhat a necessary evil in her field, she also feels like that they wasted so much money on things she didn't agree with having little to say in how her dues were to be used, especially in political campaigns. Let me say, she is a bleeding heart liberal on social issues but is fiscally conservative. A diamond in the rough some may say.

Obama was and is inexperienced and unfortunately when you are president there isn't time for on the job training or apprenticeship. The country suffers for it. He may have been the first bi-racial president, a milestone for the country, but the fact remains that he wasn't necessarily the best bi-racial man for the job. And that is sad because hopefully he didn't ruin it for the next minority to run for the office when it is all said and done. He has to make significant changes if he wants to really make history. He can talk till the cows come home but he hasn't proven yet that he can lead and unite us.

We will never be united with people like Pat and Azlan Lewis spouting the hatred that they do. Good luck with that.

Estfan and Ben, you are completely correct.

I checked on the health of these companies cited and found the same info as you did. It makes you wonder why the author of this NBC article didn't do the same basic research, eh?

So, I did a little research on the SOURCE of this "survey". It turns out to be a EUROPEAN company that does INTERNET "surveys" for PRIVATE customers. They allow their customers to decide what question(s) should be asked and allow their customers to pick "filters" to control the demographics that are included in the respondents for their "surveys".

Among the available "filters" offered are age, race, income, and location.

Their "customers" can also choose "filters" such as political ideology, political party affiliation, voter registration status, and sexual orientation.

As for this particular "survey", this European company did not divulge the identity of the "customer. Nor did they divulge which "filters" were applied to the respondents.

I did find that this survey had absolutely nothing to do with the financial health of these companies. It was all about a very targeted PERCEPTION of the chosen demographics.

The question ASKED was, "Have you HEARD anything negative about this company recently?" And, naturally, the "survey" was conducted in the midst of the propaganda campaign being waged by by all of the left-wing media and political organizations AGAINST the companies concerned.

I would give this "survey" about the same credence as I would a spokesman for the Communist Party USA - or NBC News. In other words, ABSOLUTELY NONE!!!

The fact that NBC News chose to cite this fraudulent "survey" is just more proof (as if it was needed) that NBC will NOT inform the public HONESTLY and OBJECTIVELY!!

I agree with everyone who opposes big business. They should scrimp and save and go into business competing against the big boys as it should be easy to beat them on cost since they will not have those huge big boy salaries coming out of their payroll accounts since they want to do all the extra work (schooling; save for the business; grow the business; work 60+ hours a week until business is self-continuous.) Once you have made it you can share all your rewards with your hard-working employees.

Please note.. you will need to release the banana to escape from the monkey trap before you can start on this business plan.

NO !!!

Let's not delude ourselves, the goal is VOTES from the man that has NEVER stopped campaigning.

Give me a break.

Again the Cool-aide supplants reality.

These CEO's are stating facts, but that has no place in the Progressive agenda.

"Cool-aide" - what is that" If you're going to spew right wing talking points, try to at least get the snide remarks correct.

The "man that has NEVER stopped campaigning" - would that be the guy on the aircraft carrier with the codpiece and the banner? Yeah, you righties are pretty good about pointing at others for what you yourselves do.

CEOs stating facts? Hey, you can have your own opinions, but you cannot have your own facts. And last I checked, you folks lost the election; Obama won again because the majority of people favor what he is trying to do. Sorry if you folks are having a hard time dealing with it, but I suggest you give it a shot.

Truth - Does your definition of welfare state include the 97 billion in taxpayer dollars that the Federal government handed out to big business last year (24 billion to oil companies alone) or just the 69 billion spent on social programs?

Educate yourself, Dogbreath!!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/04/16/which-megacorps-pay-megataxes/

The "subsidies" that you people are constantly citing as going to "big oil" are just the SAME tax deductions that EVERY other industry gets for the costs of doing business, albeit at a LOWER rate than any other.

The actual SUBSIDIES paid to "oil companies" total around 4 billion dollars per year and NONE of it goes to BIG OIL. In fact, over half goes to the Federal Strategic Energy Fund and for subsidies for low income families' heating bills. The reset goes to small companies averaging fewer than 20 employees.

Educate yourself, Dogbreath!!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/04/16/which-megacorps-pay-megataxes/

left wing , i will never GIVE it a shot.. If im forced to do something oh well, doesnt mean im happy that MY tax dollars are wasted on scum bags who are on welfare and food stamps get EVERYTHING for free.. while i struggle to live comfortably.. im sorry but i do not believe in hand outs.. thats whats great about this country (or was) you can become as rich as you want if you work hard enough!! now we have to make our money and distribute it the way the GOVERNMENT wants us too? want to become rich? then get and education and stop mooching off of the tax payers. your a drain on society and no one wants to support these lazy @$$ holes.. its sickening we are following in canadas foot steps, as a LEGAL US citizen who came from canada.. the health care system DOES NOT work well at all.. ASK ANY CANADIAN that cant see a doctor for months, even when they are SUPER SICK, or a canadian that was on a heart transplant list for years and then a heart comes along and the government takes it out from under neath you because the YOUNGER man after you has more life to live .. imagine that was your father.. You havent lived socialism.. hope you enjoy it.. cause this will never be FREE AMERICA again..

or a canadian that was on a heart transplant list for years and then a heart comes along and the government takes it out from under neath you because the YOUNGER man after you has more life to live .. imagine that was your father.. You havent lived socialism

or how bout the rich guy that buys that heart out from under you instead?

that's where the right wants this country to go, sold to the highest bidder, and likely the one that just cut your pay.

Some flock there, some flock away. I for one am a member of the latter and do not frequent Chick-Fil-A, Papa John's or any of the other joints mentioned here due to the neanderthalic political/social views of their CEOs.

Have a good day

exactly if I have a choice of 99 or applebees which have comparable costs and are the same driving distance and Applebees has made stmts I don't agree with politically and 99 hasn't, 99 gets my business.

the ceo of Applebees can have his personal opinion HOWEVER when he voices it publicly as the CEO of the company is when he has crossed the line and deserves to see his market share drop.

Not to mention that Applebees, Pappa John's and Olive Garden serve horrible food.

Not to mention--Papa John's cheese I swear is made of petroleum-based PLASTIC. Disgusting stuff, all 4, including Denny's!

Right Dee- only 1 electron away from bathroom tile sealant!

You are confusing our nation with the companies and rich people who live in it. America is bigger than it's companies and bigger than the wealthiest members of it.

In America we are all created equal. The well being of the many could and should out weigh the well being of the few.

Sacrificing almost all of our population to enrich the few in hopes that those few will reciprocate is foolish. The corporations and the wealthy aren't in it to help the economy or any worker. They are in it for themselves. In the end they have no loyalty to America or Americans.

I'm in it for my self too. If I'm not happy and things aren't going my way I'll use my voice and my vote to get back what I can.

KMH postulates: Businessowners are just that; they know business.

Unfortunately that is simply not the case. Just because someone owns or starts a business doesn't mean they know what they're doing. I would have you consider Wall Street in 2008, or the myriad numbers of small and large businesses that go bankrupt every year due to poor business paractices.

Have a fiscally sound day.

Interestingly you are both wrong. The easy error from ZenPaladin. The Bill of rights is specifically where the individual is valued above the majority.

It is also raises a common fallacy that all costs will be born by the customer, because a business owner will pass them along. Claiming the math is simple doesn't actually make the math simple; instead it is an attempt to make people not critically think about what is actually involved. Some owners will pass along less of the tax, specifically to generate a market share advantage over the owners that don't.

I'll grant that if Dominoes only passes along $0.07 instead of Papa John's passing along $0.14 that won't generate much market share difference. In practice I would expect for a change that small in absolute value, the difference will be made up in slightly less cheese, & toppings.

Again the amount of decrease will be subject to market pressures. If Dominoes reduces the toppings less than PapaJohns, then that difference will be noticed by customers. PapaJohns will be forced by their reduction in market share to increase the amount of toppings and thus absorb some of the costs of the tax.

Neither company is actually so foolish to pass along the entire cost, because both will monitor week over week sales and adjust accordingly. I don't think an actual percentage of cost passed onto the consumer will ever be able to be calculated.

One thing you're forgetting is Domino's pizza tastes a lot better than papa johns. And I live in Louisville. you cant swing a dead cat without hitting a papa johns around here.

KMH we demo's do remember that it was Clinton that left us with a surplus, now bush is the one who used the term what can the country do for me. The republicans are the ones that need to remember that, it is the democrats that want to help the country and the republicans that want to help them self.

The way these companies talk, you'd think they were barely breaking even and that Obamacare would push them over the cliff. When they say they will cut down their employment or pass the extra cost on to their customers they undermine their ad campaigns that try to promote them as nice friendly folks. They're not. They are cold, hard institutions that will roll over anyone who stands between them and their profits.

Bear in mind that just 400 people in this country now own 40% of the wealth, and 60% of the people now own just 2% of the wealth--wealthfare exists in all our federal laws written in the past three decades because, since then, only corporate lawyers have been writing our laws!!

We are now exactly where we were in 1929, as far as distribution of the wealth goes. Those who don't look at history doom us to repeat it.

The country fares best when its middle class is well-paid and thriving, as we saw in the 1950s. But the GOP are pulling the wool over the eyes of older white men by harkening back to that time only insofar as social issues are concerned--a lose-lose for older white men & everybody else who plays along.

Unfortunately, right now multinational corporations are extracting wealth and grabbing power all over the world. In doing so, they're completely willing to make the planet uninhabitable by our species.

Let's hope nature's next great experiment in critical thinking fares better.

I avoid Domino's pizza for political reasons (but not for statements made by franchisees.) I object to actions of the franchisees in my state. The Dept of Revenue released a list of businesses that were significantly delinquent in remitting collected sales taxes to the state. In other words, they collected taxes from customers and failed to pay them to the state to support government services. Perhaps this fraud was only the policy of one or two big franchise owners, but it gave all the Domino's restaurants in the state a black eye.

...If companies left the government alone and focused on their own business then I would do the same.....

I see the situation as just the opposite. The government is never satisfied to let companies focus on their business. Instead, our government deliberately unlevels the playing field by creating exemptions and targeting rulings, thus creating government-ordained winners and losers.

The less than 50 employee exemption is one example. Cross the 50 employee threshold and your employee costs jump significantly. Part time vs full time is another example - costs are much less for part time employees, so where high turnover is tolerable, part timers are favored. None of these exemptions help business deliver a better product or operate more efficiently. Nor do they provide a better life for employees. Instead, the exemptions drive behavior in the "wrong" direction from what the government rules intended.

Same is true of our tax code. Many complain that the rich don't pay enough in taxes because they are smart enough and wealthy enough to derive their income from tax-favored investments. The smart thing would be to do away with ALL exemptions, and level a flat percentage income tax (10-12%?) on total gross income (corporate or individual). Exempt the 1st $30K from income tax and nothing else. Then there's no market distortion due to tax-favored status. You choose whether to own or rent on what is best for you, not on what is tax-subsidized.

But then our politicians would lose their primary source of income - giving tax breaks or rule exemptions to chosen lobbyists and donors.

I see the situation as just the opposite. The government is never satisfied to let companies focus on their business........But then our politicians would lose their primary source of income - giving tax breaks or rule exemptions to chosen lobbyists and donors.

And who do you think employes the lobbyist? And who can donate enough to get a congressman's ear? Your point makes no sense.

hatesmisuseofwords: What you propose is Mitt's failed tax plan, haha! That;s called a regressive tax, because it greatly injures people who have less, and greatly favors the few who have it all.

You argue from both sides of the mouth by claiming first that it's our government's laws that make everything so hard on business--then by claiming the opposite: that government gives too many exemptions and tax breaks to corporate lobbyists. Which is it?

Ever read Glass-Steagall, which saved us from a second depression until the GOP repealed it under Gingrich as House Speaker? It's 37 pages long. Congress wrote that.

Ever read anything passed into law in the last three decades? The Affordable Healthcare Act, for example, is 940+ pages long--not 2400, as Boehner & Cantor claimed, but the average reading ability of the House is 10th grade--they can't even read it with comprehension, never mind write it!

Congress in both chambers should consist of lawyers, because the job is to write law, and most people agree that a skilled position should require the specialized training for that skill. Our founding fathers all had legal or medical (sometimes both) professional degrees from the most prestigious universities in the world.

Corporate lawyers now have those prestigious degrees--and Congress has let them write ALL fed law for decades. We need a constitutional amendment requiring congressional members be lawyers and write the laws themselves.

And, of course, we need to take the money out at every level of government, demand fully taxpayer -funded elections, and make all corporate lobbying 'gifts' the felony bribes they truly are.

Then, hatesmisuseofwords, you wouldn't be confused. I, too, hate misuse of words--and logical fallacies, such as yours.

Same is true of our tax code. Many complain that the rich don't pay enough in taxes because they are smart enough and wealthy enough to derive their income from tax-favored investments. The smart thing would be to do away with ALL exemptions, and level a flat percentage income tax (10-12%?) on total gross income (corporate or individual). Exempt the 1st $30K from income tax and nothing else. Then there's no market distortion due to tax-favored status. You choose whether to own or rent on what is best for you, not on what is tax-subsidized.

You make an assumption that what you'd support would be acceptable to republicans but are mistaken. Republican leadership isn't interested in any program that would exempt the first 30K because that would throw more taxes on them. And as flat tax advocates back when Perot was running figured the rate would have to be 18% to 21% with only the first 10K exempt to break even with current revenue. Your 10-12% with 30K exempt wouldn't raise half enough.

There should be a flat federal sales tax not an income tax. Everyone would pay it it would effect everyone equally say 10%. If person X could only afford a $10,000 vehicle they will pay $11,000 for it. If person A could afford and bought a $100,000 vehicle they would pay $110,000.00 for it. There would actually be more money to use as no one would be exempt.

A flat sales tax is bad. Per percentage of income the poor will pay more than someone making millions. A flat income tax would be fairer. I think everyone should pay their fair share. Our tax code is so messed up and cost tax payers too much. Make it simple and make it fair for all.

Papa John Snatter or whoever practically owns the city of Anchorage. A few years back the people who live there sued him for changing the look of the town.

Rob, you don't seem to understand how the franchise system works. Papa John's company does not pay any employees, except the staff at headquarters. All the pizza-makers and delivery drones are paid by the franchise owners. Their benefits are all paid by franchise owners. All the stores are leased/owned by the franchise owners.

The franchise owners should speak through their own organization - their opinion of potential costs from various laws and regulations may be entirely different from the CEO's viewpoint.

Rob

A few cents more for insurance? Our health plan for my wife an I cost $11,350 per year.

Ed - My plan premiums from my former employer ran over $15,000/yr. for a family plan. When I switched to COBRA, my premiums grew to over $1,600/month ($19,200+/yr. ). We now carry health insurance through my wife's new employer (a decent plan and lower cost) even though our portion of the premium runs close to $800 a month, we are glad to have it after COBRA. The Health Care act addresses two important issues - costs are driven up by the uninsured (who frequently use freakishly more expensive ER visits to address health problems instead of clinic or office visits), and the requirement for coverage will eventually reduce that. The Act also institutes controls over Health insurance companies profits. In 2011, United Healthcare, the nation's largest healthcare insurer reported 23 million in profits from a 100 million dollar revenue stream. That is a 23% profit made the year after the Health Care act was passed. In 2014 insurance companies will be required to spend 80% of premiums on care coverage, with any amount over the remaining 20% being refunded back to policy holders. This should limit actual premium costs to groups and individuals. The requirement for small business participation is determined by the businesses number of employees, it is highly doubtful that a local Papa Johns franchise will reach the threshold that trips an insurance requirement anyway.

Internet shopping has put far more local small businesses under than any regulations ever have or ever will.

I've started eating a small businesses. In the little town I live in they have only 15-20 workers including the sister, brother, aunt, children well work. That's small business!! WalMart fill out forms for employees that are on FoodStamp, TANF so they can get that tax right off.

WalMart has killed more small buisness than any goverment regulation or taxes, bigger cheaper and all made in china , makes you proud doesn't it?

Why should we prop up a false economy of businesses that can't afford to pay for health care? You are either competitive, or you are not. If people hate Wal Mart so much, how come there are so many of them? Is it because of all of the millionaires that shop there?!?!?!?!?.

Tony B when it first started it was because prices were low to compete with low wages,and most products were american made,now it is because there is not much of an alternative. Most small business are gone and it is the millionares that own the stores along with the stockholders, remember greed is good.Also people with low wages like WalMart employees can not afford to go any where else.

Joe66: Oh please. Corporations right now are sitting on $5 trillions; they could hire immediately but choose not to do so for the very same reasons they poured over a billion into the presidential campaign: CONTROL.

Corporate profits are at an all-time high as part of GDP. Wages are at a concomitant all-time low.

I enjoy Texas De Brazil.

Lisa and Kathy I see you are such educated ones to call another stupid and classless, well my dear ladies class can not be bought! Education can be bought that does not mean it makes one smart!

i feel so inadequate i'm not one of the 1%. you people are so much better than me, thanks for enlightening me. gosh i wish i was rich and smart like you.

I wonder how much a pizza would cost without roads, police... etc?

Lisa and Kathy: What happened to shared sacrifice during wartime?? What happened to "What you do for the least of my brethren, you do for me?" What happened to compassion?

When climate change brings disaster to your doorstep and no FEMA, firefighters, or emergency personnel respond to assist you in your time of need, should the rest of us just eat out and laugh?

Is that the America you really want? I find it hard to believe either of you have Ph.Ds or equivalent degrees and suspect you're probably both just trophy wives. There's no thought behind your puff 'n' fluff!

lisa and Kathy, I will refrain from calling you names, but it is Ruth's Chris, not Ruth Chris. I would think that you would know that since you eat there all of the time.

Ask the CEO of Costco. He has long held that if you treat your employees right, you will have happier employees who do their job well, treat the customers right, and stick around a long time, saving a fortune in training cost. Wall Street didn't like the idea at first, but you can't argue with success.

Fubarak how many taxes did G.E. pay under bush----0%

So you only want to support businesses that raise your taxes by forcing employees into the ER rather than give them appropriate health care options?

I imagine living in a trailer you don't have all that much to spend anyway.

Dan I am ofended living in a trailer leaves me money to not only spend but also to move to florida in a house bought and paid in cash, nothing wrong with living in a trailer.

what's with all the repubs here needing affirmation?

Tom3801: Okay, keep calm & continue paying through the nose for all those who are forced into emergency care past the initial stages of illness and disease, to where it costs (YOU) even more!

That what's you get when you don't MIND THE GAP.

You make a profit out of having the rest of us pick up your employees health care costs? Tell me what business you run. I would be surprised if you actually do run one and more surprised if you were to have the guts to tell us what your business is.

You miss something in your assessment, small business is the opposition of big business. Subway Corporate pushed the $5 sandwich NOT the ?small? franchise owner. Corporate Subway pushed it's own franchise owners out of the market, specifically to compete with Quiznos. Quiznos corporate was worse to it's franchise owners by pushing large sales, and NOT reducing the costs to franchise owners.

the lack of $5 sandwiches isn't due to minimum wage, it is due to market share competition. Now that subway has won the price war it is increasing it's profits. Big business will do that to any small business that threatens it.

Economies of scale are both the best and worst of the free market. They drive down costs by increasing efficiencies. Once competition is eliminated, the companies turn into monopolies, and the economies of scale become barriers to entry for small business. Monopolies or oligopolies produce the minimal benefit to society. Freemarket always degrades into monopolies and oligopolies.

Paul L.-1923570 Really?? You want to make that argument when it was deregulation that collapsed the economy in 2008?

Are you arguing it's a shame fewer folks are smoking? Really? Do you know the cost of lung cancer--which kills more than all other cancers combined?? Are you aware that cigarettes are the only legal product that when used as directed-kill?

Government is not against small business. Big Business is against small business, and its big business whose corporate lawyers write all federal laws.

What planet do you live on?

Mark Thomas: Remember the phrase "manifest destiny" from grade school? This country was founded on principles of exploitation: of the land, the peoples who lived here, its abundant natural resources, the whites who were brought here in indentured servitude, the blacks packed by the millions into cramped slave ships, unable to move-- six millions tossed into the sea --by capitalists driven to have more, more, more.

To that end, they gave blankets to 'warm' the natives in winter--infected with smallpox--and slaughtered the plains buffalo to extinction. They divided the land to be sold off in huge swaths--although they didn't own it.

Manifest destiny and "from sea to shining sea" is nothing to be proud of, because it has always been about money & greed. The hate you can read here for our president was kindled in the blood, sweat, and tears of the people who built this nation and have yet to be offered their share: slaves and their descendants.

Nothing has changed: American exceptionalism is a crock rammed down our throats in school in support of plutocracy. Perhaps only when Big Business has drowned itself by rendering the planet uninhabitable for our species will the circle finally be closed.

Read The Myth of American Exceptionalism by Stephen M. Walt for the real story of our nation you were never taught in school.

We are mostly good people, in our country--but we need to see things as they actually are, and not with the blinders of faith and false learning.

Very good comment ! Thank you! A true history lesson.

Re; Dee Turner -

Thanks for your thoughtful posts. All of them are highly exceptional. As I read the comments in general, I look for common sense and personal truth. Also, by being informed with the historical understanding of our national psyche helps to enable us who are living currently in this life-stream to make decisions relevant to the dramas we face every day.

America has and always be that experiment (a work in progress, if you will) of the few courageous individuals whose vision encompasses a global scale. By global, I do not mean physically but psychologically and spiritually.

Since the Enlightenment the world has become a battleground between the ideals of individualism and collectivism. The reality is disconcerting, to say the least. Governing such a conceptual mix is a challenge. We have placed such high hopes in ourselves as Americans that we often discover these hopes are almost impossible to fulfill. But we must if we are to survive. These political debates concerning health care and the government will pass, but the survival of our country will mean caring for everyone, not just a privileged few. And its up to the privileged few to have a conscience tempered with compassion.

Yes -and it makes us better Americans living in a better system... According to the right.

Papa Johns employees must accept taking a cut in salary for it is important that the CEO of Papa Johns maintains his estate with a private golf course

@mixedpie This is one of the best comments on here. Good for you. I wish more of the folks that comment on nbcnews gave this kind of thought to the issue rather than wasting space bashing each other or screaming about extreme politics.

Why should they give ANY of their profit to the employees? If the employees don't like working for low wages and no insurance, let them go out and start a business themselves. And I can assure you the business doesn't give a rat's behind which political party is responsible for their expenses going up. They're going to pass that along to the customers no matter who is responsible for it.

These companies may not agree with The Affordable Care Act, but most of them do not even understand how much it will benefit their workers and really don't want to find out how much it will. Being republican means having very little information and no facts that will improve understanding anything about the Affordable Care Act.

And being a Democrat means having no understanding of how business works. Papa John's is a franchise operation; each store is an independently owned small business. So it would not be a simple matter of Papa John's CEO giving up some of his millions in compensation to help all of the employees buy health insurance. Under Obamacare, their health insurance will be paid for by the individual store owners--the small business people, not the CEO. Those owners do not make millions in compensation, I guarantee you, and they need to do whatever they can to keep their costs down to stay competitive. Funny how you liberals seem to have no problem with this concept of lowering costs when it relates to hiring illegal aliens willing to work for such low wages that Americans find it impossible to keep working in those industries. Why is it you don't talk about boycotting those businesses?

To poster hbebe

Funny how you conservatives seem to have a no problem with taxing middle and low-income while support tax breaks for the rich.

I have only gone to those businesses once.

hbebe - Maybe because we have logic and sensibility? You claim Papa John doesn't have the ability to simply drop his own income to give health care to his employees, because it's the franchise owners who have to deal with that. Where the hell do you think John gets his money? The franchise fees paid out every month by every single Papa Johns franchisee in the country. If he really gave two craps about the employees within his corporation, he could voluntarily lower his own income by lowering those franchise fees, which would then give the franchise owners the extra cash to pay for their worker's insurance. How bone-headed do you have to be to think he's entirely removed from the situation and can't do anything about it, while he sits in his CASTLE on a PRIVATE GOLF COURSE in a TOWN he effectively OWNS.

nogodnomaster: Not true. Republicans support tax breaks for everybody, regardless of income.

Predator: He could give up his entire salary and it wouldn't pay for health insurance for every Papa John's employee. And they're not even his employees.

Boo Whoo whaaaaahhhhhhh another CEO that is worried about that $0.14 cents in his pocket. Why doesn't he try to pay the same percentage of tax all the rest of us have to pay and that will give the idiot somethging to cry about!

Romney at 14% and he cries! Boy my heaheart is breaking. The word is tuff crap. The middleclass already pays over 2/3 of corporate tax, 96% of property tax, 97% of the cost of medicare, 97% of all the SS payments, 95% of fuel tax, 90% of the telecom tax, 97% of state income tax and they cry abourt 14% federal income tax!

Obama let the tax breaks expire!!!!!!!!!!

Later you can give middle income earners appropriate tax breaks and watch the GOP vote against them. It will make greak amo for the midterm elections.

Boner is just too stupid to know when he has already lost.

To those of you complaining about franchisees and paying through the nose for employee's health care....most small franchises, like Papa John's, do not have the 50 employees required by ACA. They don't have to worry about providing healthcare to their employees unless they want to. However, employees, like those at Wal-Mart, who are paid sub-par salaries are forced to apply for welfare and/or food stamps. Who do you think pays for these items.....we, the taxpayers, pay for them. So, wouldn't it be better if places like McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Papa John's, etc. pay their employees a decent enough wage that they don't have to "take" from the taxpayers in the form of welfare and food stamps in order to help their families survive? Sure, they could always go find another job in a better-paying company, but jobs nowadays aren't that easy to find. You're lucky if you have anything in this economy (which is getting better slowly but surely). It just seems to me that giving your employees these basic benefits could be considered the "cost of doing business," which in some cases is a write-off on your taxes.