The worst of both worlds . . .

The Economy, apprehension because there’s indecision or indecision because of apprehension.


   Everyone can agree that we need jobs so we can earn our way out of the recession. Jobs in the government, any governmental jobs, don’t do anything to help the situation, they just suck up the tax dollars which are paid by the people who have “real” jobs, those which add to the Gross Domestic Product. Only the private sector creates such jobs, and small business is the component of that sector that produces the majority of all private sector jobs
   A Small Business Administration, Business FAQ, sets forth the following:
• Small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.
• Over the past decade, small business net job creation fluctuated between 60 and 80 percent.
• Small businesses generate more than 50 percent of the nonfarm private gross domestic product (GDP).
• Two-thirds of new employer establishments survive at least two years after start-up, and 44 percent survive at least four years.
• Small businesses employ half of all private sector employees.
• Very small firms with fewer than 20 employees spend 45 percent more per employee than the largest firms to comply with federal regulations.
• Minorities own 4.1 million firms that generate $694.1 billion in revenues and employ 4.8 million workers.
• Women own 6.5 million businesses that generate $950.6 billion in revenues, and employ 7.2 million workers.
   These facts, and common sense, should lead one to the conclusion that we should be doing everything possible to encourage small business. So, what’s happening?
     Apprehension
   Small business owners are very apprehensive about the business outlook. For small business to expand, there needs to be a reasonably stable economic outlook, or at least one that is fathomable. No one is willing to expand their business if there is a reasonable suspicion that they will not be able to meet the additional expenses, to say nothing about making a profit. There is little doubt that Small Business will be hit by significantly higher taxes and fees in 2011 and beyond, as the Obama Administration struggles under the oppressive weight of the newly expanded Budget Deficit which is greatly adding to the girth of the, morbidly obese, American Debt.
     Indecision
   The malaise of indecision hangs over the American economy like the cloud from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano hung over Europe. No one knowing how bad it would get and no one, seemingly, able to do anything about it. The only body with the potential ability to lift the gloom hanging over the American economy is the U. S. Congress. They have the power, but obviously not the will to set the economy back on the track and get it moving again toward prosperity. There is no drive, and in reality, no ability in the members of today’s legislature to act in any bipartisan manner; no matter the dire straights of our once great Republic. A simple act, such as reinstating the Bush Administration’s business tax cuts might be all that is needed to kick start the economic engine. There are other simple actions which could be taken, but they won’t happen as long as those inside the Beltway continue derailing any and all things which might keep the economic train rolling down the track.
   Until apprehension turns to enthusiasm and indecision becomes decisiveness, the light at the end of the tunnel is the Chinese Economic Express screaming directly at US.