I attended the SASIE Awards sponsored by the Arizona Small Business Association this week. As I talked to many small business people at the event it was very encouraging to see where our hope will come from. I am convinced that the trillion dollar stimulus plan will do little to affect the economic downturn. When Roosevelt implemented the New Deal the results were mixed at best. In fact as jobs were created by programs like the CCC and the WPA more jobs were lost in the private sector. Business leaders were not inspired by the government involvement, yet the working man was hopeful that the government would save his family. Most historians agree that what really turned the economy around was WW II. Through the lend lease act with Britain our factories began turning out products for the war effort. Then after December 7th 1941 we reached full employment. This of course was a result of nearly 12 million men and women in uniform.
I believe that this stimulus plan will have the same effect that the New Deal had. A lot of hope, but little movement. Small business and entrepreneurship is the foundation of our economy. If we revive it will be because of small business leadership. Folks are realizing they can’t depend on the corporation that they work for and they will soon realize that government is not the answer. It is the American spirit of free enterprise that will win the day. I believe we will see a proliferation of small businesses springing up in people’s garages and spare bedrooms. New ideas will pave the way for innovative products and creative enterprise. When we stop looking for help from the government we will ask God to inspire us and through that humility will come honor. When the recovery occurs politicians will take credit for it, but the truth will be that the American spirit fueled by our faith in God and what used to be called, the protestant work ethic will cause the rise.
Friday, February 20, 2009
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4 comments:
I agree, hard work, creativity, and an entrapernaural spirit, along with God's blessing are catalyst needed for a turnaround. HOWRVER,
My self, and alot of other people i know have thoes. You also need capital (money) in sufficient quantity in the hands of these spirited new business. That is now the problem. That money is not available from the banks (loans. The private equtity which is available now, is at best oppportunistic, looking for the 100% bargins (once in a lifetime) which happen in these times. Lets hope the capital starts flowing again soon to the right people.
GL
I believe people are starting to realize that we cannot rely on the government alone. With the election and the new President there has been so much hope that one man can change the way our country is going. When people begin to see that "change" will not be in who we elect as president, but rather in us, in working together to support our local businesses, in not living above our means and taking for granted what we have been blessed with for years...then we will truly see "change". My personal belief is this has been something our country has needed for the betterment of our country, but it will take time to get to where we need and want to be. In the mean time support and pray for our President and our country!
I beg to differ with Gary. I started a small business (landscape maintenance) a few years ago, used my earnings at the job I was working to purchase the necessary equipment. I did not take out any loans. I did not mortgage my house. It can be done. It is tough, but loans are not necessary to start a business - drive, determination, patience and prayer can do more for you than a pile of money that makes you a slave to the lender.
kathy said...I agree that the government needs to keep their hands off our businesses. My husband owned a small business here in Tucson for years and the only thing that held him back were the mounting taxes. But he worked hard and serviced his customers well and made a decent living. He did not want the government taxing him for everyone who could not or would not take care of themselves. Many folks need a hand up but what Doug said really hit home about how World War II created jobs and that is how this country revived. In fact since Welfare was cut back more people found jobs. That is what has made our country succeed. And people hleping people and being able to pray without being called down for it. Tyler Perry, the author, actor, and producer, said recently in an interview, "What has happened in America where people are afraid to say the word God or Jesus? Looking in the Old Testament God's rules to Moses to give the people were about how to work and succeed. Man was made in God's image and made to produce. Look at any Communist country and dictatorship and see how much they succeeded.
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