The Safety Net – Living on Nothing but Food Stamps – Series – NYTimes.com
Representative John Linder, a Georgia Republican who is the ranking minority member of a House panel on welfare policy added: “You don’t improve the economy by paying people to sit around and not work. You improve the economy by lowering taxes” so small businesses will create more jobs.
What I can’t understand with this continual mantra of the Republican party is whether they truly believe this is true or they all know the reality of it and are just trying to deceive their constituents into believing this fantasy.
My political bent is liberal. I tend to side with social issues.
But as a business owner, taxes only come up in my life 4 times a year… when I’m paying my estimates. This coming January I am paying no estimate because its been such a shitty year. I’ve already paid enough taxes. And I may also get a refund come April.
So, actually, the shitty economy has been an amazing tax break for me. Since I shrunk this year, I am paying significantly less taxes this year.
Let’s say I get that refund in April. Let’s pretend because the lack of growth in my business has given me a “tax refund.” I don’t know what the amount will be. But let’s say, for fun, it’s $50,000.
The government will hand me $50,000 in April.
Do you know what I’m going to do with that money?
I’m pocketing it!
I’m not going to hire somebody just because I suddenly have the money to do it.
I will only hire someone when I have so much work I can’t possibly do it with my current staff.
Giving me money is not going to make me hire anyone. I could win a million dollar lottery tomorrow and I won’t hire anybody.
And this is from a socially conscious, liberal-minded business owner. Can you imagine what the thoughts are of conservatively-minded small business owners are?
Off the top of my head, if the government were going to do something for my business (I’m not asking for this… I’m just pretending what I would ask for as a small business owner.) these are some things that would cause me to hire more people:
- Give me the Web marketing contract for any government agency or military branch.
- Hire me as a politician’s Web marketing strategist.
- Give a tax incentive to small businesses to invest in Web marketing (like the cash for clunkers or energy savings initiatives).
But whatever you do don’t just hand me money. I promise you I won’t hire ANYONE WITH IT! I’ll just save it.
