Big Biz

A wide spread division in this country is becoming quite alarming.  It's as if the majority of the citizens applaud the aristocrats of one party, while being unable to see both parties are reveling in the same wallow.  Then to add insult to injury, much of the American citizenry seems actually jealous of the people who have succeeded in business.  I'm not talking the Wall Street money movers, I'm talking the shakers and movers who started businesses in their garages or at their kitchen table!

What is wrong with these people enjoying the fruit of their labor without the rest of America trying to legislate into power, their own jealousy?  While one side of the aisle is blamed for not "producing" jobs, the other side of the aisle is blamed for small business destruction, and while both of those facts are true, the real problem lies beneath the superficial layer of this new blame game.  The reality is, the small business man has been struggling since the early 80s.  The mom and pop businesses can't compete with big box stores.  Even though the labor force cries about job outsourcing, the majority of the labor force takes their buying power to the big box store.

Washington will continue to play this game, because it is job security for politicians.  Politicians don't have to worry about making an honest living, as long as the lobby exists.  Now that we have career politicians, they don't worry themselves with coming back to face their constituents.  We the people are going to have to determine at some point, if we want to work, that's a big IF, but if we want to work, we'll have to just roll up our sleeves and get to work.  We are quickly approaching the time in which there will be no middle ground, which means no middle class.

As a business owner, I have given this some serious thought.  On one hand, I'd like to become large enough to be able to offer others an opportunity for income, but on the other hand, I don't want to be an employer.  An honest day's wage for an honest day's work is just no longer the priority in America.  The benefits package and the withholding truly do make attempting to employ others, a real hardship on a new business.  To cover all the extras, prices have to go up, then when prices go up, wages have to rise to afford the product being manufactured.  It truly is a vicious cycle that will not be legislated away, while the work force "waits."

Waiting for politicians to produce jobs is completely illogical, regardless of party.  Most of these politicians could not hold real jobs and are clueless to the everyday struggle of Americans.  I am surprised, however; at the willingness for the people to sit back, play the political blame game and accept this.  We can't all be entrepreneurs, but I truly believe we all have a talent that can be used to sustain our existence.  An employee doesn't put in the same blood, sweat, and tears, as the employer, or self-employed; which is the difference in what is now called "the playing field."  Minimum wage laws, education, and regulation will never "level the playing field."  Besides, not everyone wants to "play" the same game in the same level field!  When this idea of leveling the playing field became general terminology for the standard of living, "work" and "accomplishment" were eliminated from the concept.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might . . .  Ecclesiastes of  Holy Scripture