The Harris “Opportunity Agenda” for Black Men 10/15/24
Oct 15, 2024
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Joseph Wolk, CFO of Johnson & Johnson, shares insights on the company’s impressive third-quarter earnings and discusses the implications of the corporate tax rate as the 2024 election approaches. Charles Phillips, co-founder of Recognize and advisor to Vice President Harris, elaborates on the new economic plan aimed at creating opportunities for Black men. The conversation also touches on the intersection of corporate strategies and governmental policies, highlighting the importance of equitable economic growth and the challenges faced by the Black community.
Vice President Harris's economic plan aims to address critical issues for Black men, like housing and job creation, amidst declining support.
CFO Joseph Wolk emphasizes the importance of maintaining the corporate tax rate at 21% to encourage domestic investment and job growth.
Deep dives
Impact of Corporate Tax Rates on Economy
The discussion highlights the implications of corporate tax rates, particularly focusing on proposals from Vice President Kamala Harris and the responses from corporate leaders. Harris suggests a potential hike to 28%, while CFO Joe Wolk of Johnson & Johnson calls the current 21% rate a fair middle ground that encourages investment in the U.S. Wolk emphasizes that maintaining the tax rate is critical for business growth and job creation, as evidenced by the addition of 6,000 jobs since the tax reform. The conversation reflects a broader concern that increasing taxes could deter companies from investing domestically, thereby impacting overall economic growth.
Black Male Voter Engagement Strategies
Charles Phillips, co-chair of the Black Economic Alliance, discusses the targeted efforts to engage Black male voters as the election approaches. With recent polls showing a decline in support for Harris among Black men, Phillips reflects on the importance of addressing economic issues such as housing, inflation, and job opportunities. He highlights Harris's commitment to building three million homes during her first term as a pivotal move to win back this demographic's trust. The focus is on ensuring that her plans resonate with the community's primary concerns, emphasizing the need for direct communication and actionable policies.
Challenges of Remote Work Policies
The conversation touches on the ongoing trend of companies reversing their remote work policies, highlighted by Stellantis bringing workers back to the office. Initially, remote work was embraced during the pandemic, allowing employees greater flexibility, but the shift back is aimed at improving productivity amid profit warnings and leadership changes. The struggle to balance remote and in-office work reflects ongoing tensions in the workforce, especially as blue-collar workers have consistently worked on-site. This shift not only affects employee morale but also complicates the working dynamics between different employee types in the organization.
Economic Concerns in the Black Community
Phillips notes that the primary issues for the Black community center on economic stability, listing inflation, the economy, and jobs as critical concerns. Recent surveys indicate that there is a growing sentiment among Black men towards Republican policies, pointing to a need for Democrats to demonstrate tangible solutions to these economic challenges. He asserts that the Biden administration must articulate clear, impactful messages addressing economic disparities to maintain support from Black voters. This call to action underscores the essential link between economic policies and electoral outcomes.
Johnson & Johnson released higher-than-expected third-quarter earnings; CFO Joseph Wolk discusses the company’s performance, the latest updates on its talc subsidiary’s bankruptcy and his thoughts on the corporate tax rate heading into the 2024 election. Next, Vice President Harris released a new economic plan on Monday to give Black men more economic opportunities. Charles Phillips, Recognize co-founder and Black Economic Alliance co-chair, discusses the plan and why he’s supporting the Harris economic agenda. Plus, Fed Gov. Waller sees the need for “more caution” going forward with rate cuts, shares of Covergirl’s parent Coty fell after reporting weaker-than-expected revenue, and Tesla’s Optimus robots were assisted by humans at last week’s Cybercab event.