Interesting comments by / about small business folks in Obama's America.
Dan from Madison Says:
July 13th, 2009 at 10:57 am
As the owner of a small business I can fully agree that the climate of fear is pretty strong right now. There is so much to worry about from rising tax rates to health care costs, etc.
One of my employees joked about the health care agenda the other day and I looked him in the eye and said to him (we as of now provide health insurance for our full time employees) “if you think I am paying twice for your health insurance, you are insane”. That was the end of the conversation.
I am fortunate in that I work in an industry that flies very much under many folks radars but that can change in an instant. Bummer for me though, I bought the building that my business is located in a few years ago and now the city is absolutely killing me on property taxes. Our state income tax is set to go up by a staggering amount this year as well. We seem to get it from all angles.
I only have to last about another 20 years or so and it will be over, but I am loading in the Pepto for now.
veryretired Says:
July 13th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
While I don’t disagree with the gist of Lex’s contention regarding the framework of the current regime’s vision, although I would characterize it as resembling Huey Long’s corrupt, populist, corporatist state more than the others mentioned, I am not sure it is focussed malevolence as much as another example of magical thinking.
I truly fear that the guiding theory of the current statist crowd is the age old dream that anything is possible if we only pray or wish for it hard enough.
I think their attitude toward any business that they cannot find a political use for, either as a major fund donor, or a populist rallying point to protest competition from evil corporations, is one of indifference.
And by indifference I mean the kind of attitude which says, “Well, this may make it tougher for some businesses to survive, but they’ll think of something, they always have before.”
Politicians have become to believe themselves to be similar to natural forces, akin to sunlight or rain—they’re just there, and must be reckoned with. The concept of changing their views or positions in the face of evidence they have created major problems for business groups that they didn’t understand or foresee is as alien to them as the idea of ordering the sun to come up in the west tomorrow.
Why, then, the pandering to other groups and “connected” corporations? All these guys know and understand is power. If it threatens them, they pander to it. If it is incoherent and disorganized, it is meaningless.
What must small and medium sized businesses do? Decide whether they wish to surrender and be squeezed dry, or form their own version of AARP and coordinate their efforts to present their case to those in power. They must become a threat that cannot be ignored.
If you don’t like being a herring, become a shark.
Tatyana Says:
July 14th, 2009 at 9:48 am
David,
I’ve received a “liquidation” email from an antique china/silverware shop that was in business for 25 years, edish. (since I have bought vintage Noritake from them I was on their newsletter) Tomorrow is their last day. Their home page says it all:
“And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain…
At edish we did it ‘our way’ for over 25 years.
On July 15th we will be gone for good. Our shop is one that we hope you, our customers, will remember fondly.”
And at the bottom a chilling sentence: “One final note: if you know of job opportunities …, either in Salt Lake City or Houston, or beyond, please feel free to contact me.”
It’s everywhere, and it will get worse.
Reading what James said above: did you hear that GE just hired Mrs. Daschle?
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