Comments on: What’s Most Important to You in this Election? The War Over the Small Business Vote…

By: Dorothy Stahlnecker

Dorothy Stahlnecker — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:23:21 +0000

Yes, I resent the more you make the more you pay. It diminishes incentive unless you know how to work the system and I don’t. I’m sick of the health care system having to rely on some person who never met me yet will decide if I can have a PET Scan or not..and you know I just went through that with my Cancer..Doctors and doctors only should make those decisions not strangers..I want our Senate to stop allowing us to be dependent on oil from the middle east and continue to support automobiles that use less gas…it’s terrible that they ignored this for so long…and wherever we have to drill we should do it along with other energy saving ideas we are all aware of now..including Pickens and the windmill.
Immigration is a big concern, I support coming to our country however, following the rules and not immediately going on welfare or a form of my social security…It was never meant for anyone other then those paying into it.. I’m very generous and will share however, I prefer keeping it in my country for our needy children first. When we have surplus; go back to the care packages we us to give, where we teach them how to survive once we’re gone…independence with short term help after we give it to our own..make us stronger first so we can then, help others..

Sadly there’s not much detail from either candidate..So I’ll vote for the politician who loves
his country, and wants to serve not be served by his constituents..all too often once they enter that little boys club they forget who their real bosses are….lets see who gets in and if they reduce the deficit or make it larger..unfortunately then it will be too late..and oh yes I didn’t even touch on the war..my grandson is there for his second time and he tells me he doesn’t even know how to vote…get that.. I was sure he could share a direction. So to this moment I’m not sure who to trust…

Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com

Dorothy Stahlneckers last blog post..Women In Business Expo Eastern Hills Mall

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:10:12 +0000

Trickle up economics? That would be socialism. Where does the trickle stop? At the very bottom of the ladder. Ever wonder why the Great Depression took so long to recover? You’ll be able to find out firsthand with these two spenders.

The greatest disservice is having two candidates promoting universal health care programs that can’t possibly work. One is not enough and the other has been proposed in the past, has had the numbers crunched by Congress, and has been proven impossibly expensive to implement (see http://www.cbo.gov).

Anyone touting that tax cut should look again. Thanks for that $1200 this year but when the bills come for the proposed spending for all the other programs, you had better bet small businesses will crumble under the weight.

Without fiscal conservatism, we are screwed.

By: Why You Shouldn’t Look to Washington to Solve Your Financial Problems | Sparkplug CEO

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:02:41 +0000

[...] little control over whether my corporate tax is 36% or 39%. Either one of these is way too high. As Brad Shorr suggests our corporate tax rates are “already uncompetitive on a global basis, and itâ€™s costing us [...]

By: Char

Char — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:29:41 +0000

I think the most frustrating thing is that regardless of how we vote and regardless of who actually is voted in, change will take time. Things will not suddenly become right overnight. And who ever is voted in, does not govern alone – the best intentions of presidents are often derailed by congress and the senate.

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:53:52 +0000

Higher taxes for any business or segment of the population will be bad for entrepreneurs. Corporate tax rates are already uncompetitive on a global basis, and it’s costing us growth and jobs now. Neither McCain nor Obama has a clue about economics or what’s good for business, nor should they be expected to. Business is incredibly complex and even the best economic minds in the world can’t agree on policy or forecasts. The real impact of either will depend on their advisory team, Congress, and the public mood. My fear is that the combination of a Democratic President, a Democratic Congress, and a public accepting of “big government” will lead to an economic policy based on protectionism and redistribution of wealth. What we should do is cut billions (trillions?) in wasteful government spending in order to clear the decks for money we desperately need for such things as a decent system of health care. I don’t see it happening in the next four years.

Brad Shorrs last blog post..Why Companies Should Outsource Web Content

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:59:54 +0000

Health care is a big issue for this solo consultant:

Universal Health Insurance is pro-entrepreneur. I know too many people who stay at jobs they don’t like rather than risk going out on their own because they are afraid of losing health benefits. Ditto people who won’t take jobs with start-ups for the same reason. It doesn’t have to be Canada or England, but guaranteed health insurance of some sort will make entrepreneurship easier.
And let’s be realistic: it’s not like we have a free market in health insurance: in most states, it’s an oligopoly, with two or three primary players all of whom are completely unresponsive to customers and often downright cruel. Obama’s story of his mother having to fight with insurance companies over paperwork as she lay dying from cancer is a familiar story to people on all sides of the political spectrum. It often seems that the insurance companies work on the theory that a certain percentage of people will be too busy or too distracted to bother to argue with their glaring mistakes and try and get what’s rightfully theirs.

Alans last blog post..Curing NASCAR Blindness

By: Regina

Regina — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:17:17 +0000

I concur with #20 Sean Bossinger. I’m also more interested in the people who are losing their homes, homeless, healthcare-less, hungry and for those Men and Women who are serving our country and not being compensated or supported properly when they do arrive home.

The mess that has been made in the last 8 years will take more than 10 years to fix it therefore, we all need to pray that the next person will have the opportunity to fix just one of the challenges we’re facing as a Country.

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:08:33 +0000

My husband ('Joe the Lumberjack') owns a tree and landscape company, so the most important issue to us is gas prices and which candidate has a better plan for alternative fuel/keeping prices lower. When the dump trucks and bucket trucks cost $100 more each to fill up and the supply companies charge an additional $250 gas surcharge to bring materials to the job site, it becomes very hard to make a profit, or payroll for that matter! Ambers last blog post..DIY Wants To See Your Ugly Yard!

By: Gayla McCord

Gayla McCord — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:06:20 +0000

My decision is based on what is going to be best for my children. This is the last election they will NOT be voting in. As they approach an age where they will no longer be on the insurance plan they are – knowing their history of asthma, etc. I am concerned about their health first and foremost.

Next I’m concerned about keeping more money in MY pocket to support my kids (have you seen how teen boys eat?) – I don’t make $250k a year and doubt I will anytime in the next few years, at least.

I have to say I’m with the candidate who will serve to give our country HOPE in the face of such economical turmoil. We all know how depression and despair tends to spin out of control. I think it’s time we all get a hefty dose of hope, dreams and change.

What can I say, I’m an advocate at heart

Gayla McCords last blog post..A MomGadget Winner – Micralite Toro Stroller

By: Allen Taylor

Allen Taylor — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:53:01 +0000

But some of our best presidents – on both sides of the aisle – have been the ones that have told us that itâ€™s going to be okay and made us believe it.

You mean, as opposed to those who told us that it would be OK and we didn’t believe it?

By: Sean Bossinger

Sean Bossinger — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:36:15 +0000

Much has been made about John McCain not being able to tell how many houses he owns. Much has been made about Barack Obama’s plan to roll back the tax cuts that the current administration has given the insanely wealthy. For me the decision has had little to do with either of these things.

My decision was made based on who I feel will be able to rally the American people to a more productive state (Obama), who I feel reflects my ideals that universal healthcare should be available because the economy we have can afford it (Obama), and who I feel has chosen the better running mate (Obama).

I think it’s bad when we force our politicians to promise things they obviously cannot deliver. This country can’t afford another tax cut – in fact, we’re already so deep in the red it’s likely we won’t ever work off the debt we’ve accumulated.

Sean Bossingers last blog post..Letting go

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:00:11 +0000

As a tax attorney who works with small to mid-size businesses, I echo the “confidence” argument. Most of my clients net (not gross) less than $250k – even those in very successful businesses – and are not concerned about a tax increase. They are much more concerned about their ability to move product, attract clients and compete in a global market. Economic uncertainty will do more damage than anything – just look at Wall Street’s wild ride of late.
So, at the end of the day, I’m looking for a mixture of leadership and cheerleading. Yes, it sounds simple. But some of our best presidents – on both sides of the aisle – have been the ones that have told us that it’s going to be okay and made us believe it.

By: Wendy Piersall

Wendy Piersall — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:56:29 +0000

@ Stacy Brice:

It’s my understanding that Obama wants to basically eliminate the tax cuts put in place by Bush and push the highest tax bracket back up to 39%. I haven’t been able to confirm this, and in fact, have an email in to someone who might be able to get me a straighter answer from someone on the campaign.

Perhaps the answer can be found in the Obama Tax Cut Calculator?

By: Stacy Brice

Stacy Brice — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:49:58 +0000

At each debate, I heard Obama talk about how he wouldn’t increase taxes for anyone earning less than $250K. And each time I screamed, “What about those making more?” I wanted to know.

So I asked an Obama campaign volunteer if she knew. And she asked a campaign staffer, who shared with her (and which ultimately came back to me) a comparison of the tax increase/decrease plans of both candidates that ran in the Washington Post.

Interestingly, it shows that Obama wouldn’t raise taxes on anyone earning less than $603K/year. Maybe that makes some people feel better. Maybe the Post is full of crap. Maybe the candidates are. Who knows? In reality, none of us *know* what’s going to happen.

I don’t believe there will be tax cuts; how can there be with our deficit? And although a cut would be nice, the only thing that actually rankles me is the idea that someone smart (or lucky as the case may be) enough to have a high-paying job or business doing well would pay MORE than others. My good fortune should never obligate me to pay more than my share of things, IMO. And from my own socially conscious perspective, any giving one does should be at his or her discretion and choice, not done as a tax.

Am I worried about small/micro business, or myself in that landscape? I actually try not to think about it, and, instead, focus on my own path and keeping my business strong and moving forward.

But I think, in general, with the candidates we have in front of us, we’re all damned if we do, and damned if we don’t.

I look forward to seeing the other comments!

By: Dawn Rivers Baker

Dawn Rivers Baker — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:45:37 +0000

My biggest concern is which candidate will most favor trickle UP economics and do more to factor microbusinesses into their fundamental economic policy development. I care about income inequality and the various ways the middle class is being squeezed, and I think that small and microbusiness issues (and especially nonemployer businesses) are central to lifting the middle class.

By: Kitt Kinross

Kitt Kinross — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:39:26 +0000

There are two big ones. The whole 250K discussion. And Health Care.
As the wife of a small business owner I have what is basically catastrophic insurance because it is so hard to find good insurance. So do my 5 kids. They receive medical care on schedule but it is pretty much out of pocket. We paid out of pocket for the last birth and the prenatal care. To punish him for not providing his 5 full time employees with health care when we can’t get affordable health care ourselves is ridiculous. Go after the insurance companies – who argue over every dime and deny half the claims – don’t go after us.
Second, it is an LLC and some years it hits 250K. Yay for us. We are aggressively saving for 5 college educations and retirement. In reality, that doesn’t leave THAT much for us to write welfare checks out of.
I have very little faith in government regulated anything. There are always loop holes and there is always way too much spending involved.
Have you ever had to sit and wait on a military base to be seen? Ask around… waiting to be seen with small kids screaming and over worked staff… I remember and will never forget being 5 years old having stepped on a hot coal that fell out of our friend’s grill, and waiting around because it was a base hospital and my dad’s rank didn’t get me far enough up in line to be seen in a reasonable amount of time. I will pay out of pocket to get my kids seen any day.

By: Lori Osterberg

Lori Osterberg — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:56:39 +0000

My business helps the micro businesses – usually just one or two, and a more mom-and-pop mentality. So for me, it’s definitely about the under $250k mentality. I teach Six Figure strategies, so my clients are starting businesses and figuring out how to build a six figure business. Because this is my target market, that’s also where I focus politically.

Health care is one of my biggest concerns. If you decide to start your own business and can’t get insurance, can you really concentrate on building a strong business? and in many cases, its not even about the availability of insurance – its whether you qualify and can even have access to it.

By: PhD in Parenting

PhD in Parenting — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:08:59 +0000

FWIW, one of the big issues for self-employed in Canada in our recent election was access to maternity and parental leave benefits that are usually only available to people who are employees.

Another big issue up here for small business owners is paperwork burden. Too many forms to fill in!! It takes up thousands of dollars in accounting fees each year and about 1/2 a day per week that I could be spending on my clients.

PhD in Parentings last blog post..Who are you and what do you want?

By: daisybones via Twitter

daisybones via Twitter — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:58:14 +0000

daisybones: @eMom health care, ending war, & social issues are more important to this business owner than taxes.

By: Allen Taylor

Allen Taylor — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:53:54 +0000

First, it’s not about me. There is more to consider than my own pocketbook. I’m also concerned about civil rights, Constitutional Authority, Net Neutrality, the Iraq War, and many other issues that are beyond my financial situation. But to answer your questions:

* Are you concerned or not concerned about being taxed at earnings above $250K?

Not concerned.

* Do you fear that taxes will limit your business growth?

Yes.

* Are other economic factors affecting your business?

Not really.

* Would a vote for either candidate benefit your customers or clients better?

Probably, a vote for either candidate would benefit my clients in some way.

* Do you think that a tax break for the middle class would boost your business?

Yes.

* Is getting good health care an issue, or does your spouse get health care through their employer?

This issue not really important to me even though neither I nor my wife have health insurance. I believe in providing for myself. There are much more important issues to be dealt with than what merely affects me.