Small Business to DC, can you hear us now?

We’ve all been hearing and reading a lot about the steps our “crack” team of elected officials are talking about actually addressing now that election season is fast approaching. All of a sudden it’s dawned on them that it’s the economy and jobs or lack thereof that’s the real 800LB gorilla in the room. Let me suggest some radical ideas for them to ponder while they’re waiting to loose their seats in Congress:

1. Eliminate “Uncertainty” in the Business Environment
Federal legislative and regulatory anti-business proposals are negatively impacting the economic recovery of every industry. The outcome of these proposals is unclear, which has caused much uncertainty and has made it difficult for companies to adequately plan for the future. Currently, employers are unwilling to hire additional employees or invest in equipment or facilities can you blame them? Would any business owner in their right mind consider hiring a single employee without knowing how they’ll be taxed next year or being able to project the cost of that employees healthcare?

2. Increase Access to Capital
The freeze on lending for the private sector must be addressed immediately. The long delay in lending or outright refusal by financial institutions to fund private sector growth has had an extremely detrimental impact on every industry without exception. Almost every client we speak with at SWC has had that meeting with their bank about borrowing money and without exception has walked out of the meeting with sincere words of encouragement by their friendly banker and maybe a lolly pop.

3. Provide Meaningful Tax Relief that Leads Directly to Job Creation
Under the nation’s current tax system, rates are too high and laws are too complex, thus inhibiting the growth of small businesses…but this administration in it’s wisdom has chosen to address healthcare, more education spending, cap and trade…yeah that’ll help jobs if you’re one of the 2.15 MILLION federal employees today.

4. Promote Energy Efficiency
A comprehensive energy plan will benefit all Americans through less expensive, more stable energy supplies. The potential dividend for the construction industry is considerable. The nation’s energy infrastructure is insufficient and crumbling; new construction and upgrades to plants and transmission infrastructure are desperately needed. Think about it the Dept of Energy was started in the Carter years to end US dependence on foreign oil…it’s now 33 years later and imports of oil are increasing daily along with their budget (35Billion) not to mention the number of federal employees (16,000)! Results ZIPPO!

5. Support Training Programs for All
One of the keys to growing jobs is to provide high-quality, flexible training that leads to a lifetime career opportunity in a lucrative field. Not everyone should go to college to study philosophy, English, Social Studies or other “soft skill” curriculum. When did attending a trade school become passe? Well maybe that’s because we have no new industries opening plants requiring machinists, drafters etc. When was the last time you saw a new factory being built in your town? Here’s a novel idea how about school-to-career programs that offer students a course of study that brings together academics, on-the-job learning and paid work experience—all before high school graduation. With an unemployment rate (published) of 10% and a real unemployment rate of almost 20% you’d think the situation would get the attention it deserves…then again the government hacks are too busy calling Steven Colbert to testify.

I have yet to speak with a client or prospective client that doesn’t share some of these ideas, yet nothing seems to get done by those people in whom we’ve put our faith in to serve “we the people”. One thing our clients universally believe is that Second Wind performs as promised with no excuses and no delays. Our men keep the ball moving down the field versus kicking the can down the street.