Auto Dealer Monthly, November/December 2017

O p e n i n g O b s e r v a t i o n s 4 auto dealer today November December 2017 Vice President Group Publisher AutoGroup Sherb Brown 310 533 2451 sherb brown@ bobit com Publisher Dealer Group David Gesualdo 727 947 4027 david gesualdo@ bobit com Managing Editor and Associate Publisher Tariq Kamal 323 377 0929 tariq kamal@ bobit com Editorial Director Gregory Arroyo 310 533 2592 gregory arroyo@ bobit com Art Director Vince Taroc Graphic Artist Jeff Polman National Sales Manager Greg Ree 407 383 2260 greg ree@ bobit com Sales Marketing Coordinator Amy Hangartner 310 533 2518 amy hangartner@ bobit com E Media and Print Production Manager Brian Peach 310 533 2548 brian peach@ bobit com Production Coordinator Tanya Carranza 310 533 2496 tanya carranza@ bobit com Director of Audience Development Tony Napoleone Chairman 1961 2014 Edward J Bobit President CEO Ty F Bobit Chief Operating Officer Cyndy Drummey Chief Financial Officer Armand Del Duca Business and Editorial Office Bobit Business Media 3520 Challenger St Torrance CA 90503 Fax 310 533 2503 Change Service Requested Return Address Bobit Business Media PO Box 2703 Torrance CA 90509 Printed in U S A dont pick a side The partisan divide has infected the conversation about health care reform a topic that should be of interest to every business owner By Tariq Kamal voters on both sides of the aisle believe partisan disagreement has reached a dangerous level and pride in our sacred democracy is waning This spirit of discord was reflected in the most recent attempt to replace the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare also known as our national health care system It was a strange spectacle Any discussion over the finer points of the legislation was drowned out by ceaseless vote counting and manufactured drama Some blame the president Not me Ill never understand why the flawed vessel who lost to the other flawed vessel didnt also campaign on health care reform They should have been debating how to fix it not whether to fix it If youre not paying too much for too little you know someone who is If you dont have a pre existing condition you know someone who does Medical bills are the still the No 1 cause of personal bankruptcy in this country accounting for nearly two thirds of those filings and not at all limited to those who are without health insurance As employers auto dealers know the difference between politics and policy You have a dog in this fight even if you stayed home on election day Whatever happens next will affect your budget and your employees lives in significant lasting ways To get a little perspective on the matter we turned to our resident geopolitics expert For this issues cover story attorney and compliance expert Jim Ganther delves into the issue from an apolitical business oriented angle If you have mentally checked out on health care reform I dont blame you But this is a good time to check back in You will learn what the debate is all about who pulls the levers of power whether socialized medicine is a viable option and basically everything else you need to know to rejoin the conversation Congress has turned its attention back to tax reform a topic Ganther covered in our July issue Tax Reform From the Dealer Perspective Page 16 But the powers that be have more tools in their arsenals than legislation and they are using them to set the stage for the next debate and in very real ways make substantive changes to the ways Americans seek and secure health insurance In other words one vote does not end the conversation Nor should it Something has to be done A recent Washington Post University of Maryland poll found to no ones surprise a level of distrust in our political system not seen since the Vietnam era Majorities of American Medical bills are the still the No 1 cause of personal bankruptcy in this country