Robyn Blumner, SP Times: Bush's plan leaves out the workers

[highplainsdem]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/25/Columns/Bush_s_plan_leaves_ou.shtml


When President Bush looked out over the devastation of New Orleans' wet and moldy Lower Ninth Ward, he didn't see poor people who lost what little they had; he saw future owners.

Bush's "ownership society" agenda (also known as the "you're on your own" society) has been waylaid by falling poll numbers, a headache-inducing war and general snubbing of his idea to privatize part of Social Security. But Katrina has given Bush the opportunity to take the rhetoric out of dry dock.

-snip-

"It is entrepreneurship that creates jobs and opportunity; it is entrepreneurship that helps break the cycle of poverty; and we will take the side of entrepreneurs as they lead the economic revival of the Gulf region," Bush declared, pledging business incentives and tax breaks.

One has to wonder what is in this man's Kool-Aid.

-snip-

[wishlist]

1. Underpaid workers cannot pay entrepreneurs and support businesses

The right wing ideology is flat wrong in thinking that financial help to business owners is the answer to everything and should be the primary focus of government spending rather than ensuring that workers get a fair living wage with health care. Capitalist Henry Ford realized that if he and other businesses did not pay adequate wages, there would be no customers for their products.

[Cassandra]

2. It would be lovely to know...

how many people who got large tax cuts actually use that money to start businesses or expand them in the US. But they'll never collect that information because it isn't favorable to their cause. I started a business without a tax cut. A guy on the next block is taking over a diner in the building he owns because he thinks he can do a better job than the guy who's currently running it. He took out a loan because he sees an opportunity to increase his profits on the property and because he knows the neighborhood is underserved. If he didn't think customers would buy what he wants to sell, he wouldn't bother, even with a bigger tax cut.

[zalinda]

3. Very few who got tax cuts start businesses

and why should they? It's gambling. If you've got it made why gamble? Lower and middle class people are the ones that start the most businesses, because they either have a plan or need to make money because they can't find a job.

My ex-husband's family all got huge tax breaks (very wealthy) but not one of them started a business, or even own businesses. They all inherited wealth, and either work at a job so they don't get bored, or just play. Oh, wait, one did start a business 30 years ago, but it was her husband, and she went along with it. He wasn't wealthy, but a farmer, they met in college.

And, it's a plain fact, small businesses are the back bone of this country, but it's harder and harder for a small business to compete with the large corporations with their tax breaks and corporate welfare. Go down any main street in this country and you'll find so many store fronts empty it's frightening.

zalinda