RIP Small Businesses

April 14, 12:21 PMBusiness News ExaminerScott Gingold

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Mary Wells posted a very timely topic ("How important is a policy for small business in the effort to create new jobs and reach economic recovery') on the WowOWow website.

Thus far her post has garnered 54 responses, and yes, some of them came from yours truly.

This is a really important topic as I believe that unless REAL and MEANINGFUL action is taken IMMEDIATELY, we will see small businesses failing at record rates within the next 60-120 days.

Despite the hype that you may have heard, the "Economy Recovery Act" for small business is a sham. Yes, there has been some improvement in SBA loan guarantees, and a lowering of fees, but, accessing credit is still near impossible for small businesses, especially those who are, and have been struggling.

As I have written previously, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is utterly useless to most small businesses. The US Chamber of Commerce seems to be on hiatus, and totally uninvolved.

The major on-air media (CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox News, CNN, HLN, MSNBC, etc.) outlets have NO interest in covering small business issues whatsoever.

If you don't own a small business you may be wondering why this is so important, and why I spend so much time covering this.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 90 percent of all American firms have less than 20 employees, and those firms are responsible for 97 percent of net new jobs. We have all heard it time and time again; small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy. So, if we do not support small business, the unemployment rate will get progressively worse. You always hear about Mega Corporation Worldwide Incorporated laying off 5,000 workers. Are the 2 to 4 let go by a local bakery, pizza parlor, HVAC contractor, hair salon, landscaper, or auto repair shop less important?

As for politicians, here too, I have voiced my feelings on this many times over, so, for today, I will just add this. I believe that Charles Durning's character in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" sums up precisely the way elected officials in Washington treat, and regard small business! Below is the video, and please pay special attention to it from the 1:33-1:47, the 2:38-2:53 and the 4:17-5:00 minute mark's.