NJ YOUTH LEADER EJ RAPADA: on Gov. Mitt Romney

By Marivir R. Montebon

"I want an American President to be a leader and not merely a politician," quite a punch from a young leader, father, and career man.

Emiljun "EJ" Rapada is one of such rare breed of men who can multi-task. He who works in a manufacturing company in New Jersey, dotes on his three young children Eliana, Evana, and Elie, makes time to his wife Kristine, and manages an organization as Board Secretary to the family based organization Filipino American Community in America (FICA) New Jersey Chapter. He is also the Secretary of the Federation of Philippine Societies of NJ (FOPSNJ).

As a leader, he believes in serving with unconditional love.

He graduated BS Computer Engineering and Masters in Public Administration and lives in Elizabeth, New Jersey with his family.

EJ shares with OSM! his political views on the current issues, and positive choices Gov. Mitt Romney to be America's next president.

Excerpts:

1. Why do you believe that Gov. Romney should be the next US President? What difference could he make?

My answer is based solely on the records of Governor Romney during his term and President Obama for the past four years.

The first that comes to my mind is the economy. Unemployment in October inched slightly higher to 7.9% and recovery is very slow compared to previous recessions. The value of the dollar is not coping with the increases in prices of basic provisions. Gas is pegged to more than $4 a gallon which is a 100% increased compared to 4 years ago.

I believe some of the economic policies of this current administration are poor because of the results that we are experiencing right now especially to the middle class. Pres Obama made a lot of promises 4 years ago but did not deliver the real economic recovery.

A study by Phil Gramm and Glenn Hubbard found that "Fifty-three months after the start of the 2007-2009 recession, employment in the United States is still down four million jobs, or 2.7 percent lower than when the recession began. The labor-force participation rate has dropped to 63.8 percent from 66 percent, as discouraged workers have exited the labor market. Real per capita GDP has declined by $964, and is 2.2 percent lower today than when the recession began."

I am very frustrated and eyeing for a better alternative because I don't want to live another four years of economic mismanagement and poor choices.

I am sure Gov. Romney can bring recovery and I want to bet on him because of his experiences as a businessman and governor of Massachusetts. Also, because he believes in small government, and plans to lowering taxes and cutting the federal deficit to balance the budget, which Pres. Obama promised to do the same before becoming President but actually increased the federal deficit to around 5 trillion dollars in just 4 years.

2.  Didn't you think that Gov. Romney was isolating himself from the 47 million Americans who have entitlement benefits?

I prefer recovery than dependency.

America is now a country of entitlements as 47 million Americans are greatly depending on the government and is surely creating financial and social problems. I personally know someone who did not want to go back to the labor force after being terminated because of the extended and expanded government benefits.

Of course, to those who genuinely need temporary support while looking for a job or transitioning from unexpected challenges is morally acceptable but to those who plan to depend on the government  is very irresponsible and unacceptable. The US government's public debt is now larger than the size of the economy.

3. As a young leader in the community, do you think the Asian American youth share this view? Why?

Asian Americans are hard workers and take pride in our accomplishments. Fil-Am youths are very creative and competitive and if given the opportunity can manage to succeed despite the odds along the way. If the playing field is fair and resources are plenty then I don't see any reason why Asian Americans could not be successful here in America.

But if the government says that what you built is not yours and that your financial success should be equally distributed (by being taxed higher) to those who do not equally give their all is not empowering but rather creating a destructive social norm.

Through this perspective, I believe Asian Americans share the same view and so with other ethnic groups.

4. Why do you think Pres. Obama doesn't deserve reelection?

I want an American President to be a leader and not merely a politician.

President Obama's record of the past four years is an indictment of a poor decision making. The economy as the first obvious result of such bad decisions. Stubbornly high unemployment, huge federal deficits, trillion-dollar entitlement programs, downgraded credit rating and so on. Even foreign policies such as the latest controversy on the Benghazi Attack blaming it to a video is certainly a result of poor decision making.

Moreover, the transforming or even damaging of traditional American values such as the sanctity of life, institution of marriage and the freedom of faith and speech which makes this country great as well as the the lost of the 'puritan spirit' which is the foundation of American democracy becoming vulnerable is definitely not moving to the right direction.

5. What major concerns do the youth and young entrepreneurs have today? How should government support these?

As we heard from the past three presidential debates, entrepreneurs are indeed in big trouble if President Obama is to win another term. He made it clear that higher taxes will be imposed to successful individuals (sole proprietors) and partnerships (corporations) in order to fund a big  government takeover.

For the past 4 years, the President enacted numerous business regulations more than his predecessors which give rise to higher cost of doing business in America. One of the biggest challenges of business owners is to conform with regulations especially on health care, banks and environment which may result to lesser hiring and fewer job generators.

To add insult to injury, he even suggested that successful businessmen did not build their own business because they are smart or work hard but owe their success to somebody else. This is offensive and demeaning to hardworking American entrepreneurs and foreign investors.

6. How should America maintain its power as world leader in the community of nations?

In order for America to maintain its power, it should:
a) Keep her firm reliance to the Divine Providence (God and its Christian foundation);
b) Respect and protect her people from their unalienable rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
c) Keep her entrepreneurship (free enterprise) vibrant and friendly to local and foreign investors;
d) Keep her strong military that pursues and protects democracy (freedom of religion and speech) in the world; and
e) Keep her strong economy (debt free);

Therefore, the American people should ensure that the government is always in check, by making sure (properly electing) those who serve have the right motivation. Finally Proverbs 28:2 (NLT) states that "When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.”

LOIDA NICOLAS LEWIS on President Barack Obama

By Marivir R. Montebon

New York-based Loida Nicolas Lewis puts her time and passion into
the November elections in the US, campaigning for the reelection of
President Obama. At no other time than now has it ever been so
exciting and crucial for Americans to choose their next president.

Ms. Lewis believes that the president deserves a second term to
continue what he has began and to see better results of his
socio-economic programs. When we met in her office one Thursday
afternoon in early October, she said she was going to take on a debate
in Philadelphia, on behalf of the Democratic Party.

With the tight race between the incumbent and Massachusetts Governor
Mitt Romney, Ms. Lewis said they are doing their best to convince the
American people that the president is still the best choice they could
ever have.

Ms. Lewis is a Filipino businesswoman, philantropist, leader, author,
public speaker, and lawyer; she is also the first Asian American to pass
the American Bar in 1994 without having to study law in the US.  In
1969, she worked for the Law Students Civil Rights Reseach Council in
New York, the Manhattan Legal Services from 1970-73, and in 1979-90,
as a lawyer for the Immigration and Naturalization Services.

Ms. Lewis succeeded as chairperson and CEO of the TLC Beatrice
International Holdings, a food and beverage company, in February 1994,
a year after her husband Reginald Lewis passed away. She was named the top US woman business executive in September 1995 by The National Foundation for Women Business Owners and Working Woman magazine.

When chancing upon Ms. Lewis  in a social event in Manhattan, conversations are usually brisk but substantive. She is a woman who's always in a hurry schedule, saying hi and hello would normally be followed with what's her recent involvement on issues, and then a quick goodbye.

It was a pleasant opportunity to have sat down with her for a great conversation and a phone interview as she tackled the most crucial question faced by Americans today.

Excerpts of the interview:

1. What keeps you busy these days?

I am actively campaigning for the reelection of Pres. Obama.  The two
presidential candidates we have now could have not been more different
and really is a black and white matter.

First, Pres. Obama is for the inclusion of everyone in the US, while
Gov. Romney is subtracting the 47% of the people. One case in point is
the minors who have been denied their green cards.  In June, Obama
issued an executive order giving children of undocumented immigrants
to continue their education, get jobs, and take on the path to
citizenship.  Romney, on the other hand, said he will deport
undocumented aliens.

The second big difference between the two is that Pres. Obama takes
care of the people through his health program, the Obamacare.  For the
first time, the Obamacare provides preventive medical care for people.

2.  How can the Obamacare take effect when it costs so much and the
economy is deteriorating and could not afford it?

To finance the Obamacare, Pres. Obama will fix the tax code. He will
maintain the current taxes imposed on the one million dollar earners,
taking into account the Warren Buffett proposal, while reduce the
taxes imposed on those earning less.

Romney will cut the taxes across the board, including the
millionnaires who are already privileged enough.

Obama also reduced government bureaucracy. He shrunk the federal
government down to its lowest level.

It is important to note that the Catholic Church has denounced the
Romney-Ryan budget because, among other reasons, it will cut Pell
Grants for students and funding for the Public Broadcasting Company.

Their philosophies are just too entirely different.

3. If Pres. Obama did so well in his first term to merit a second, how
do you explain prices of oil going up and unemployment is still up as
well?

Unemployment was reduced since the Pres. Obama got into office. In
June 2009, unemployment rate was about 9%. In September this year, it
has gone down to 7.8% and is continue to go down.

When he came into office, it was like America was on a big fire that has
to be immediately stopped. This explains why there was the Stimulus
package as a stop gap measure to help banks, infrastructure, and small
businesses that needed cash.

What he did is seeing fruition right now. The stock market is up and
housing sector is up too.   Foreclosures are down and there is about
800,000 permits to build issued.

Next year, there will be a boom in America.

4.  Do you think the US will continue to be the world's strongest and
wealthiest country in the next few years?

Yes, the US will still be the strongest and wealthiest country in the
world. It will take a long time for China to take over. For one, the
information technology will deter China from being so totalitarian and
controlling.  It will lose grip of its people. Like in the Middle
east, China spring will happen.

5.  You mentioned information technology as a sort of tool for
democracy. What can you say about the Philippines' own Cybercrime
Prevention Law? Are you for or against it?

That is a terrible law. It stiffles any kind of criticism by the
people. Freedom of speech is the fulcrom of democracy. I don't
understand why Pres. Aquino signed that into law. It has to be
repealed.