This video from CBS contradicts much of my thinking on this subject: how federal, state, and local governments can boost small business and entrepreneurship. Watch it and see what you think:
What I like about it is the quick rotation through real people, real business owners, making specific and concrete suggestions. It’s also nice that it has some snippets about what local governments are already doing right. It’s a nice touch to include some positive to offset the negative.
My thinking is that talk of taxes and red tape is mostly politically motivated. Throughout my lifetime, whichever party isn’t in power is complaining about red tape in small business, as if it were the fault of the party in power, instead of the litigious society we’ve all built for ourselves. And every small business spokesperson, when asked, says taxes are too high. I’ve always thought that real small business focuses on business problems, like giving value to customers, and leaves the politics for big business and big politics.
What do you think?
Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software and Bplans.com. Follow him on Twitter @Timberry.
