Congressman Johnson address variety of topics

MITCHELL, S.D.(KMIT)- A lot of apocalyptic claims have been made by both sides in this presidential election.  Congressman Dusty Johnson says that despite those assertions, America will be all right going forward.

Johnson says that the United States has faced rancor and division before.  It is up to us as Americans to put aside our differences and cooperate to make a better future for all of us.

Congressman Johnson was one of six primary authors of the House farm bill that passed in committee with a bipartisan majority.  He says now that the election is over, there is a chance for a new five-year farm bill.

Johnson says that if his bill is not passed by the first of the year it dies procedurally, and Congress is back to the beginning with new members and their perspectives and priorities.

After 15 years of negotiations, China entered the World Trade Organization in December of 2001.  It was thought that membership would tame their mercantilist behavior.  It hasn’t.  Congressman Johnson comments on one of their unfair trade practices, the requirement that American companies in China engage in technology transfers as a cost of doing business in China.

Johnson says that while the relationship between the United States and the former Soviet Union dominated the 20th Century.  US/China relations will dominate this century.

China has recently sought regional military hegemony at the same time they seek to continue dominating world trade.

It has been described as the “third rail” of politics.  It is the government’s most popular, and one of its most expensive, programs – Social Security.  Congressman Johnson describes the mechanics of how the program works.

Americans invest in 401Ks, IRAs and the stock market for retirement.  Some have suggested solving the perennial financial problems of Social Security by doing something similar with Social Security contributions.  Dusty Johnson explains why that’s not practical.

Social Security has some financial issues and may not be able to pay full benefits as early as 2033.