7 Ways Barack Obama Will Influence CE Pros
Predicting how the president-elect will have an impact on your custom business.
By Jason Knott
November 04, 2008
The endless election is finally over. How will the election of Sen. Barack Obama directly affect the custom electronics installation industry?
Is business set to thrive as citizens embrace his message of "change," build optimism and start buying more home theaters and digital networks? Or will the economic malaise deepen, brought on by higher taxes and restrictive legislation?
It's hard to really know, but I will attempt to make an educated guess based upon the young senator's slew of campaign promises. (I am breaking the old adage to never talk about politics or religion).
Of course, any one of these predictions may or may not happen, as politicians have a funny habit of abandoning campaign promises soon after they get into office.
Taxes Will Increase "Joe the Plumber" from the campaign trail could have easily been "Joe the Integrator." (Although I don't know many integrators named Joe.) But if you are pocketing $250,000 from your business, a tax hike will soon be on the way.
Likewise, "closing business tax loopholes" was a big mantra from the senator on the campaign trail. There could be a push of legislation that cuts out some business deductions.
Home Automation Will Be Hot Even though the oil market rises and falls based on supply and demand, last summer's $4 per gallon gas prices brought the need for alternative energy into the forefront. Obama has promised to subsidize these industries.
For integrators, that means you will encounter more homeowners than ever looking for interfaces that help them manage the energy usage in their houses. That's good news!
Payroll Costs Will Increase If universal healthcare is mandated, somebody has to pay for that. Insurance companies will likely leap on the situation as a reason to boost costs, forcing integrators to increase payroll deductions.
Housing Will Continue to Slump I make this short-term prediction based on the assumption that there will be an increase in restrictive environmental legislation that adds to the cost of residential development.
That cost will have to be passed on to buyers.
Cost of Goods Will Go Up The Consumer Electronics Association has spent quite a bit of money touting free trade lately. It might be because most electronics are produced outside the U.S.; therefore, any sort of trade barriers could affect the production of loudspeakers and other components.
To a certain extent, Obama believes free trade hurts U.S. workers and will be unlikely to sign any agreements. Product liability protection laws could also be weakened if Obama gets to select Supreme Court justices who lean the court to a more liberal stance.
Remote Telemedicine Will Grow I expect that as part of any universal health legislation that gets passed, a portion will address remote healthcare.
If insurers are mandated to reimburse doctors for telemedicine "housecalls," it will be a boon to dealers selling and installing residential CCTV, glucometers and other medical services enabled by broadband connections.
Security Sales Will Rise Security is truly a recession-proof industry. As unemployment rises, crime increases. As crime increases, security systems sales increase. It's a simple formula that's been historically proven.
Any other predictions you want to throw my way?
Return to full story:
http://www.cepro.com/article/7_ways_barack_obama_will_influence_ce_pros/
Predicting how the president-elect will have an impact on your custom business.
November 04, 2008
The endless election is finally over. How will the election of Sen. Barack Obama directly affect the custom electronics installation industry?
Is business set to thrive as citizens embrace his message of "change," build optimism and start buying more home theaters and digital networks? Or will the economic malaise deepen, brought on by higher taxes and restrictive legislation?
It's hard to really know, but I will attempt to make an educated guess based upon the young senator's slew of campaign promises. (I am breaking the old adage to never talk about politics or religion).
Of course, any one of these predictions may or may not happen, as politicians have a funny habit of abandoning campaign promises soon after they get into office.
Taxes Will Increase "Joe the Plumber" from the campaign trail could have easily been "Joe the Integrator." (Although I don't know many integrators named Joe.) But if you are pocketing $250,000 from your business, a tax hike will soon be on the way.
Likewise, "closing business tax loopholes" was a big mantra from the senator on the campaign trail. There could be a push of legislation that cuts out some business deductions.
Home Automation Will Be Hot Even though the oil market rises and falls based on supply and demand, last summer's $4 per gallon gas prices brought the need for alternative energy into the forefront. Obama has promised to subsidize these industries.
For integrators, that means you will encounter more homeowners than ever looking for interfaces that help them manage the energy usage in their houses. That's good news!
Payroll Costs Will Increase If universal healthcare is mandated, somebody has to pay for that. Insurance companies will likely leap on the situation as a reason to boost costs, forcing integrators to increase payroll deductions.
Housing Will Continue to Slump I make this short-term prediction based on the assumption that there will be an increase in restrictive environmental legislation that adds to the cost of residential development.
That cost will have to be passed on to buyers.
Cost of Goods Will Go Up The Consumer Electronics Association has spent quite a bit of money touting free trade lately. It might be because most electronics are produced outside the U.S.; therefore, any sort of trade barriers could affect the production of loudspeakers and other components.
To a certain extent, Obama believes free trade hurts U.S. workers and will be unlikely to sign any agreements. Product liability protection laws could also be weakened if Obama gets to select Supreme Court justices who lean the court to a more liberal stance.
Remote Telemedicine Will Grow I expect that as part of any universal health legislation that gets passed, a portion will address remote healthcare.
If insurers are mandated to reimburse doctors for telemedicine "housecalls," it will be a boon to dealers selling and installing residential CCTV, glucometers and other medical services enabled by broadband connections.
Security Sales Will Rise Security is truly a recession-proof industry. As unemployment rises, crime increases. As crime increases, security systems sales increase. It's a simple formula that's been historically proven.
Any other predictions you want to throw my way?
Is business set to thrive as citizens embrace his message of "change," build optimism and start buying more home theaters and digital networks? Or will the economic malaise deepen, brought on by higher taxes and restrictive legislation?
It's hard to really know, but I will attempt to make an educated guess based upon the young senator's slew of campaign promises. (I am breaking the old adage to never talk about politics or religion).
Of course, any one of these predictions may or may not happen, as politicians have a funny habit of abandoning campaign promises soon after they get into office.
Taxes Will Increase "Joe the Plumber" from the campaign trail could have easily been "Joe the Integrator." (Although I don't know many integrators named Joe.) But if you are pocketing $250,000 from your business, a tax hike will soon be on the way.
Likewise, "closing business tax loopholes" was a big mantra from the senator on the campaign trail. There could be a push of legislation that cuts out some business deductions.
Home Automation Will Be Hot Even though the oil market rises and falls based on supply and demand, last summer's $4 per gallon gas prices brought the need for alternative energy into the forefront. Obama has promised to subsidize these industries.
For integrators, that means you will encounter more homeowners than ever looking for interfaces that help them manage the energy usage in their houses. That's good news!
Payroll Costs Will Increase If universal healthcare is mandated, somebody has to pay for that. Insurance companies will likely leap on the situation as a reason to boost costs, forcing integrators to increase payroll deductions.
Housing Will Continue to Slump I make this short-term prediction based on the assumption that there will be an increase in restrictive environmental legislation that adds to the cost of residential development.
That cost will have to be passed on to buyers.
Cost of Goods Will Go Up The Consumer Electronics Association has spent quite a bit of money touting free trade lately. It might be because most electronics are produced outside the U.S.; therefore, any sort of trade barriers could affect the production of loudspeakers and other components.
To a certain extent, Obama believes free trade hurts U.S. workers and will be unlikely to sign any agreements. Product liability protection laws could also be weakened if Obama gets to select Supreme Court justices who lean the court to a more liberal stance.
Remote Telemedicine Will Grow I expect that as part of any universal health legislation that gets passed, a portion will address remote healthcare.
If insurers are mandated to reimburse doctors for telemedicine "housecalls," it will be a boon to dealers selling and installing residential CCTV, glucometers and other medical services enabled by broadband connections.
Security Sales Will Rise Security is truly a recession-proof industry. As unemployment rises, crime increases. As crime increases, security systems sales increase. It's a simple formula that's been historically proven.
Any other predictions you want to throw my way?
Return to full story:
http://www.cepro.com/article/7_ways_barack_obama_will_influence_ce_pros/