Small-biz owners fuming over ‘plethora’ of rules

Boston Herald ^ | 7 May 2006 | O’Ryan Johnson

[Radix]

Peabody businessman Bruce Lerner is joining the fast-growing list of entrepreneurs “frustrated out of business” by strict state and local regulations that small-business advocates say are choking the lifeblood of America’s economy.
    “It’s the sheer plethora of regulations,” said Carolyn Logue, a state director with the National Federation of Independent Businesses. “It seems many were just drafted to give someone, somewhere a job to do. Nobody looks at the goals and whether they’re actually accomplishing anything.”
    Three weeks ago, the North Shore Tobacco Control Program sent a 17-year-old decoy into Lerner’s Main Street Smoke Shop in Peabody. She made it 14 feet from the store entrance to the register before a clerk told her to leave because she lacked ID.
    Moments later the antipuffing G-men pounced, slapping Lerner with a $200 fine, not because he sold cigarettes to an underage person - which he hadn’t - but because an underage person had simply walked into his store.
    “I just feel as a business owner for 19 years, what does it benefit me to run a business?” Lerner said. “If the state wants to run my business, they can get up at 4 a.m.”
    Lerner is entertaining offers to sell the shop rather than endure the aggressive policing of the Tobacco Control Program. Logue said that puts him in league with businessmen across the country who, rather than wade through piles of paperwork in a ceaseless battle with bureaucracy, are simply closing shop.
    “That’s the frustration of small business owners who are saying,my employees are safe, I’m doing the right thing,” Logue said. “But someday someone will walk through my door, I don’t know who that person is, but when they show up I’m going to have to pay thousands of dollars as a result.”
    Lerner said he appealed the fine to the Peabody Board of Health, which agreed to waive it as long as there were no further violations. But he said the Tobacco Control Program wants him to lock away all his tobacco, which he refuses to do because it would eliminate his “roll your own cigar” display.
    Asked if he’s being pushed out of business by bureaucracy, Lerner said he hopes not. “Everyone you talk to who’s in a position of power says no,” he said. “But it certainly doesn’t help.”  

[Radix]

 

"..the antipuffing G-men pounced, slapping Lerner with a $200 fine, not because he sold cigarettes to an underage person - which he hadn’t - but because an underage person had simply walked into his store."

[martin_fierro]

Ping

[beltfed308]

This is sick! Where is the victim other than the owner?

[sgtbono2002]

Nazi tactics for sure.

Its getting bad.

What does it cost for a new business to simply comply to the ADA rules? Thousands. Aisle width, door width, the bathrooms ,ramps , thousands of dollars thrown away because one handicapped person in a thousand may want to enter.

[Muleteam1]

Conservatives have paid so much attention to the Federal government restrictions on business, we have overlooked the overbearing States and municipal regulations. Local governments are the last bastions for liberals to control our society.

Muleteam1

[patton]

I hate bureaucracies

[ErnBatavia]

Some California municipalities are making homeowners do many of those things if they want to sell the house. A friend (he's a realtor) was even surprised when he learned that he had to do some major doorway work to the guest bathroom, because it wasn't "handicapable".

[elmer fudd]

Conservatives have paid so much attention to the Federal government restrictions on business, we have overlooked the overbearing States and municipal regulations. Local governments are the last bastions for liberals to control our society.

It's not like conservatives ever stood any chance in Boston or Massachusetts.

[Luigi Vasellini]

My uncle had a candy store. Some worthless gubbamint turd bought his wrapped bulk candy. The turd unwrapped the candy and weighed it...low and behold...my uncle was fined for the candy being underweight. Turds...turds...everywhere!!!

[george76]

Here are all the different kinds of taxes that our government loves imposing upon us.

 

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines (indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest Expense (tax on money)
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State, and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-Recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
Trailer Registration Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

As Nugent said, “What the hell happened?”

created by Tom Nugent at National Review a few years ago.

[Gabz]

Nanny State Ping!!!!!!!!!!

Just last week I was carded for a pack of cigarettes...........and I'm 45 years old. The poor girl at the register was embarrassed (I'm old enough to be her mother) but one of their other stores got nailed eariler for not carding someone who didn't look 27.

[bert]

The marxists who control the state legislatures are imposing their poisonous ideology by making an end run around the feds.

The resulting discrimination will be the economic ruin as populations desert the tyranny.

[RandallFlagg]

So, what you're saying is.... You're a babe?

Well, we already knew that.

;-)

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!!

Flattery will get you..............................nevermind :)

Funny thing though, Earlieer that same day in that same store I was not carded for a 12 pack of beer. Go figger.

[patton]

Someday I want to run for office - I promise to do nothing, but take laws OFF the books.

That's it - that's my whole platform.

[spinestein]

A friend of mine worked in an automotive paint store and he told me that one day someone from the state walked in and started going over the shelves of paint and supplies checking for violations. He said all the stuff that was stored in regular inventory was as it was supposed to be, but because it was the middle of the business day and they were in the process of mixing paint for customers, they had the flammable storage cabinet unlocked and had numerous cans of paint open for transfer of product from can to can. The guy just started checking off multiple $1000 violations for improper labeling and open containers and unsecured cabinets simply because of a temporary usage condition.

[spinestein]

If you run in my district I promise to vote for you.

[Muleteam1]

You are very right there. If you are located in MA, you have my sincerest sympathies. Being the oldest, MA is part of the leading edge of American societal decay. It seriously needs an injection of conservative penicillin.

[patton]

LOL. Thanks. At least I am not the only one who thinks the situation is nuts.

[o_zarkman44]

If only illegal immigration law was so effectively enforced we would have little problem with illegal immigration.

This total bullsh*t selective law enforcement is nothing but feel good back patting of a society of victims.

[patton]

Kind of odd, given that it was founded as a Puritan religious community.

[EGPWS]

A few weeks back, I was told to give my drivers license so they could swipe it (magnetic strip) after asking for a pack of smokes at a Holiday Station Store before I could purchase them. 49 yrs. old here....

I'm eagerly anticipating all the junk mail and unwanted phone after that electronic interrogation.

I am pleased with the inability of some to question if I am 21 or not by looking at me, however am disappointed that this is required of me with my verbal demeanor.

[TexasTransplant]

>>>>>"Here are all the different kinds of taxes that our government loves imposing upon us"<<<<

Add to that a boat load of mandated Insurance and then the Regulations as mentioned in the Article and it's easy to see how much of our day is dedicated to nothing but Government.

TT

[Military family member]

Actually, there is a clause in the ADA that allows for hardships. Reasonable accommodations are required.

[spinestein]

[Once you steal a firetruck, there's really not much else you can do except go for a joyride.]



Great tagline. That reminds me of a friend of mine who bought a used fire truck (early 60's model) from the village he lived in and fixed it up and started driving it around town for fun.

The police chief tried to give him a bunch of tickets for driving an obviously unlicensed, uninsured vehicle around for no reason, but he eventually convinced the officer of the truth; he actually DID license and insure it just so he could have the pleasure of driving it around town a few times.

[EGPWS]

So, what you're saying is.... You're a babe?

Well, we already knew that.

Randall! That isn't the kind of smokin' that this thread was built on! /snicker

[patton]

Thanks - it was a comment by another freeper on a thread about some kid in canada who actually stole a firetruck. I like it so much, I stole it.

LOL. I hung it on my office door, and all my coworkers look at it and say, "That is so...you"

[EGPWS]

Ted forgot Internet access tax....

The Bush tax cuts federally have brought me down to just over 50% in tax payment via income!

Gee, not bad.

[sgtyork]

One grocery store chain here cards EVERYBODY. Eighty year olds have to get out their ID to buy alcohol. Its nuts!

[Copernicus]

One of the many joys of life on "official" government mailing lists is to receive threatening letters from non government public/private corporations who will sell you (at a hefty price) laminated posters with all the latest employee/minimum wage/discrimination policies etc.

There are several of these corporations, most from California, some more local, all of whom seem to have a bottomless supply of "new" regulatory posters for both Federal and State policies.

Apparently, the day is not far off when an entire wall may need to be dedicated to the display of these Orwellian tracts.

The topic for a satirical skit you will never see on Saturday Night Live or elsewhere.

I may post the text from one of these letters if I get a chance.

Best regards,

[ClaireSolt]

Did you know that the main reason 3 of 5 new businesses fail is due to the IRS? They think that the first responsibiity of a business is to pay taxes. Paying taxes is more important than paying the lights or the phone.

But anyone who contributes to this populist demagogery against oil companies these days contributes to the mentality that attacks business.

[Muleteam1]

The same thought has crossed my mind but if one looks at the "blue" areas in the last elections, the map seems to resemble the growth and the decay in a biological laboratory petri dish. I don't know much about the Puritans but assuming they were a conservative influence on the founding of MA, it does seem strange that their influence would not still be felt.

[ishabibble]

Socialist state workers aka PARASITES who make work to justify stealing their paychecks. Mr. X owned two small businesses, and has a million "useless idiot" stories, just like any other guy who thought, once upon a time, that owning your own business was part of the American Dream.

If MA voters really want to cut off the head of this poisonous snake, they need to fire all their legislators, and close it down. This awful story is the end result of some state legislator pushing through some ridiculous law because his cousin works for the Health Department, or his mother works at Dept. of Business Regulation.

You see, this is why there are Kennedys, Kerrys, Barney Franks, and Marty Meehans in office. It is the sickest form of incest.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Great post.

[george76]

The un-funded mandates are a big kick in the stomach for businesses. This also means less money for the owners and less money for the employees.

There is a long list of mandated insurance and educational requirements that is expanding.

We use to waste days per year, now we waste weeks per year listening to the new government regulations.

The government hires lots of new lawyers to create new regulations and then we have to go to class to try to memorize the hundreds of new pages of new rules. Soon these "new" rules will be changed again...back of the merry-go-round.

[KoRn]

Heads up.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

Failing to post TPTB's latest decrees is a crime and will cost you money if they choose to make it so.

Michael Frazier

[oldtimer2]

I would like to do as Heinlein suggested: Each new congress would for the first year be allowed only to remove laws from the books. The second year they could make new laws.

[patton]

petri dish - great analogy. Dieing in their own biotoxins.

Puritan influence of the US is very strong - even is MASS. It molded our form of government.

Then they took G_D out of the equation, and ... well, the whole expiriment went bad.

[patton]

When Heinlein wrote that, the Tax code was only one volume...

[george76]

While the media continues to blame the big oil companies for gouging U.S. motorists as they collect record breaking profits, the windfall profits raked in by the government in the form of energy tax revenue actually dwarf the oil companies' jackpot.

The press sounded the alarm last year when the largest U.S. oil company, Exxon Mobil Corp, announced profits of $36 billion. But according to the Tax Foundation, the biggest price gouging profiteer was the U.S. government, cashing in to the tune of $54 billion in oil and gas taxes.

"Tax collections on the production and import of gasoline by state and federal governments are already near historic highs," the think tank says. "In fact, in recent decades governments have collected far more revenue from gasoline taxes than the largest U.S. oil companies have collectively earned in domestic profits."

Since 1977, federal and state governments have collected more than $1.34 trillion in gasoline tax revenues in inflation adjusted dollars. That's "more than twice the amount of domestic profits earned by major U.S. oil companies during the same period," the Tax Foundation says.

Still, despite government tax gouging on oil industry revenue, Democrats like Sen. Charles Schumer want to raise energy taxes even more - complaining that oil company profiteering is simply just unconscionable.

[BIGZ]

My argument for years. The United States is losing jobs overseas, not because of cheap labor but because of this BS.

[mewzilla]

Census estimate a concern for state (Taxachussetts losing a House seat)

Go figure.

[eXe]

I refuse to show my ID anymore to buy anything. I am 40 and when they ask me for ID I flat out refuse and loudly tell them why. Will it change anything? Probably not.. but I refuse to be a sheep who hands over my "papers"

I can buy ciggs somewhere else.. its that simple.

[spinestein]

[...a bottomless supply of "new" regulatory posters for both Federal and State policies. Apparently, the day is not far off when an entire wall may need to be dedicated to the display of these Orwellian tracts.]



Uuuuuuum....that day is already here.

The small factory I work in has a wall by the time clock completely covered with the laminated posters issued by the state and federal governments and MANDATED to be displayed prominently where employees can see them.

They cover OSHA rules, minimum wage, employee rights and some really stupid stuff like how to behave if a fellow employee becomes disgruntled and starts waving a machine gun around and threatening to kill everybody. It recommends: "Don't panic." and "Stay calm." and "Don't focus on the weapon." (Really! I'm not making this crap up!)

I can see this happening in my workplace. I'd have to say to the crazy person waving the gun around, "You'll just have to hold on a second, pal. I need to go check that poster over there on the wall and see what some federal government committee thinks I should do in this situation."

But my favorite one is the sexual harassment policy poster. It says in great big red letters across the top:

SEXUAL HARRASSMENT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW!!

Yes, it actually does have two exclamation points at the end. It goes on to define all the possible ways that sexual harassment can take place, and the serious consequences to the individual who engages in it, but mostly how much it's going to cost the company which employed him.

[Gabz]

A few weeks back, I was told to give my drivers license so they could swipe it (magnetic strip) after asking for a pack of smokes at a Holiday Station Store before I could purchase them. 49 yrs. old here....

I dont' mind showing the ID - I will not permit it to be swiped for any reason.

The swiping of the DL for purpose of cigarette/tobacco purchases is brought to you courtesy of RWJF.........you will be getting junk mail and unwanted phone calls - all about quitting smoking.

[ran15]

Yes some of the major democrat cities are already in population decline. The productive citizens seek out opportunity elsewhere.

[Gabz]

The United States is losing jobs overseas, not because of cheap labor but because of this BS.

Like you, that has been my position for years, as well.

[EGPWS]

I can buy ciggs somewhere else..

As I do.

Ironically, I still buy them from the same vendor but at a different location which doesn't require such a scrutiny of information.

They got busted years ago for selling to a minor via a "sting" and are required to assure the 0 tolerance of selling to minors.

Again, via government regulation, common sense is tossed out the window.

[ran15]

Thats a good idea.. a step in the right direction. I like an idea like this.. any new tax takes 55% to vote in.. and any tax cuts only take 45% to pass.

Same thing should go for regulations or even more weighted in favor of elimination. Issues where there is a broad consensus won't have problems passing, but special interest nanny state rules will be harder.