« BACK  |  PRINT

RS

MEMBER DIARY

The State of the American Small Business

By: Caleb Howe (Diary)  |  February 1st, 2012 at 06:00 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Today, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing “to examine obstacles to small business job creation and economic growth in America.” The below video highlights some excerpts from that meeting.

“I’ve never been more concerned with our prospects as a company than I am right now.” Last October, Gallup released a poll regarding the most significant challenges facing small businesses in America today. It is from that poll that the statistics in the opening of the video were taken. Listening to the video excerpts above, nothing has changed since October.

Best takeaway quote? “I can tell you exactly how many jobs were created on net by the stimulus, it was zero point zero zero zero. Because if you take a trillion dollars out of the economy, and spend a trillion dollars back into the economy, you haven’t done anything for the economy on net. It’s old-fashioned, out-dated, Keynesian economics, which is a proven failure.”

Consider this an Open Thread.

Get Alerts

COMMENTS

POSTING RULES  |  LOGIN TO COMMENT  |  REGISTER TODAY
  • http://punditpawn.wordpress.com punditpawn

    Things just got a little more interesting…

    http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/208117-trump-to-make-major-announcement-on-presidential-race

    • deVere

      So it’s probably Newt, but Trump is somewhat unpredictable.

      For whatever it’s worth, Intrade predicts Gingrich 85% to Romney’s 5%

      • WillWong

        Romney failure to sign up for Trump’s presidential debate probably sealed his entry permanently in Trump’s bad book!

        • deVere

          http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/02/breaking-trump-to-back-romney/

          Intrade now shows a 70.5% chance of Trump endorsing Gingrich, and a 79.5% chance of Trump endorsing Romney. Apparently Trump has caused Intrade to have a nervous breakdown.

          • deVere

            90% Romney, 10% Gingrich.

    • Common_Cents

      Like him or not, Trump could have some good influence. He has the knack to tap into the populism/angst against obama and American decline.

      He can mow down the media with ease. He had F Chuck Todd flustered for 30 min after an interview last month.

  • votemout2012

    GOP needs to make this into a political ad.

  • kowalski

    :)

  • kowalski

    — And it really is:

    The worst part about the economy being as bad as it is, is not in the abstract: it’s really how it affects people’s minds, their psychology and decisionmaking across the board *regardless* of party affiliation. Prolonged periods of bad times like the ones we’re going through cause a real sense of defensiveness and – even worse – a kind of “last man standing” mentality that benefits precisely NOBODY.

    I’ve worked with people from both parties for as long as I’ve been in business and the worse things get, the less people trust each other – even if they had known in prior times that they’re coming from different places politically, and even if they had known in prior times that they’re coming from similar places politically.

    Things get scarce, everyone starts looking out exclusively for themselves and the real generosity of spirit that defines American business gets tossed out the window. Everyone becomes MF Corzine.

  • kowalski

    Now that Donald Trump is endorsing someone, it sure makes me want to go to a casino and lose money!

    • WillWong

      Trump is not running as a third party candidate!