Well, as a non-supporter of the Obama Administration and a detractor often asserting the Administration of being anti-free-market capitalism, today, I give a round of applause and kudos for their latest small business indicatives.
Yes, I know it is an election year and this stuff should have been done the FIRST day in office, and is much more important for job growth than just about anything else, but it's also better late than never, regardless of whether this administration survives their political re-election campaign, okay so, let me explain.
The Washington Business Journal had an interesting piece recently on July 11, 2012 titled; "Obama takes more steps to help small businesses," by Kent Hoover which noted some of the things the Obama Administration was doing to help small businesses, and it listed 5-major points; 1.
Make sure that federal subcontractors -- many of which are small businesses -- get paid quickly by prime contractors; 2.
Streamline and increase SBA loan size from $200K to $350K; 3.
Reduce SBA disaster loan application and downsize the 80-page online form; 4.
Tax credits for new businesses in economically depressed areas, and; 5.
Allow Continuance of a $250K business investment deduction.
It's a start - So, I am happy with this, also I'd like to see some legitimate leadership in getting the bureaucracy to reduce burdensome and redundant regulations at all levels of government.
If the Obama Administration takes the lead, puts out a plea to other levels of government and leads by example, WE WILL see small business job growth that I can guarantee.
One thing that I am sure is going to irk at least some of the political competition over all this is that this move was done during the middle of a busy presidential election campaign.
Some on the Obama side of the political spectrum might say that since he's been bus-touring the country he's met a lot of small business people, he's been listening, thus, decided to act.
This might be correct, however on the flip side of that argument one my assert that, well, they should have been looking out for the little guys all along, after all small business make up 67% of all the jobs, and 10% are self-employed, and that grand total is 77% of the population, so, it's going to be hard to excuse the inaction even when we applaud the better late than never iniatives as a "good start" but hardly all that's needed.
Please consider all this and think on it.