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Blame me for job losses (a businessman explains why businesses don't want to hire today)
American Thinker ^ | Dec 11,2008 | C. Edmund Wright

Posted on 12/13/2008 8:50:55 AM PST by SeekAndFind

When the jobs report for November came out last week, many so-called "experts" were shocked at the massive loss of an estimated 533 thousand jobs. Even a Time /CNN organization called "The Curious Capitalists" were at a loss to explain it.

Let me attempt to help out these "curious capitalists" (though I am still skeptical that anyone working for CNN or Time is either curious or a capitalist). I caused part of this job loss and I know precisely why; the election. The results portend big trouble for small business.

The job destruction process has started. We are about 20% of the way through our ramp down process and on schedule to complete the shut down by spring 2009. Watch the financial news and you will see continued job cuts each month. We are not alone in our strategy. Far from it. Atlas has shrugged all over the country.

Like many business owners, we are no longer willing to take all of the financial and legal risks and put up with all of the aggravation of owning and running a business. Not with the prospects of even higher taxes, more regulation, more litigation and more emboldened bureaucrats on the horizon. Like others we know, we are getting out while the getting is, well, tolerable. Many who aren't getting out are scaling back.

We learned just this week that getting out of business is harder than we thought. Take Republic Windows & Doors of Chicago, where being out of money and out of paying customers apparently does not give a business the right to shut down. Nor does it give that business' bank the right to withhold credit. According to the unions, Jesse Jackson and the Governor of Illinois (yes, THAT governor), this company must continue to pay its employees salaries and benefits.

But pay them with WHAT? Liberals seem to be clueless as to where "the money" comes from. They love to tax, regulate and redistribute wealth -- all the while decrying the very profit motive that created it -- something they do not understand. If they did, they would not naively insist that a business that is out of money, out of customers and out of credit stay open so as to pay employees.

And that is but one example of why the lay-offs of November 2008 - which will be part of George W. Bush's statistical record - fall in reality on the Obama election. Business owners understand that the election of 2008 just gave a lot more power to people who think like these liberals in Illinois. For crying out loud, an Illinois liberal is now "President elect" and he chose another one for his Chief of Staff. He chose Michigan liberals for his economic team. Illinois and Michigan are broke!

It is no secret that owners circulated endless emails leading up to election day discussing lay off plans were Obama to win. Entrepreneurs instinctively understand the danger posed by larger liberal majorities in power. The risk-reward equation and fierce independence spirit of start up businesses are anathema to the class warfare, equality of outcome and spread the wealth mentality of the left.

We have very little appetite to have our lives run by elected or un-elected officials like Barney Frank and Jamie Gorelick. We have no appetite to be taxed even more by the likes of Charlie Rangel. These clowns destroyed Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and our entire economy as a result. Congress, by their own admission, cannot even run their own damned dining room with a captive customer base! Some of them refuse to pay their own tax burden. Why in the world would we subject ourselves to their ilk armed with the unchecked powers of the Oval Office and both houses of congress and a massive army of bureaucrats?

We got into business to be independent. We will get out for the same reason.

The fact that Obama is not in office yet is irrelevant. Businesses must see "around the corner" and plan accordingly. Rightly or wrongly, business owners see a huge anti-business shift in motion and they are making preparations NOW. We do not want to have business illiterates like Chris Dodd dictate our decisions from the comfort of his home made possible by a quid pro quo Countrywide mortgage.

(As the owners of Republic Windows are finding out, government will nose their way into your business even if you are not thriving.)

Most of the kind of people who start and run businesses are by definition trying to opt out of depending on anyone else -- be it a large corporation or government -- for their welfare. We take on tremendous risks and responsibilities. We do so expecting a better than average return. Since we require nothing from government, most of us deeply resent and resist being pestered by government.

For nearly 30 years, I have been one of these business people. It was an amazing journey and literally involved blood, sweat and tears. But now I am done. This election screams that we are going to see a deterioration of the risk-reward equation and the ability to be left alone. Apparently, any appreciation of our crucial place in the economy is lost on over 50% of the voters as well as those they elected.

So, like many business owners, I will "stay home" so to speak. Others more brave than I are opting to try and stay in business by cutting way back on purchases and payroll. They have already started. They are not waiting for the little sign on Obama's lectern to be updated to the official Presidential seal. November 2008 job losses belong to "The Office of the President Elect." I know. I caused some of them, and I know why.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atlasshrugged; business; economy; freemarket; joblosses; layoffs; liberalism; marxism; thegreatshrug; unemployment
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To: Texas Eagle
“Comrade Obama.” That's a descriptive term that should be SOP at FR.
61 posted on 12/13/2008 10:58:32 AM PST by Jacquerie (Politicians are people who create problems and then campaign against them - Charlie Reese)
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To: bitterohiogunclinger
All I see are people suddenly being tapped on the shoulder and being asked to leave on the same day without the company being prosecuted at all. As well as it should be. There’s no Constitutional requirement that employers provide lifetime employment, health insurance, minimum wages or any other benefits. The only thing an employer owes an employee is what the employee agreed to work for for work performed.

Sorry Charlie...It goes both ways...The emplyees agree to perform the required work for specific wages and benefits...And the company agrees to pay the same for the work being done...

62 posted on 12/13/2008 11:00:22 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: Dan(9698)

You have to pay taxes before you get a “tax break” or “Credit”.


Actually, we don’t. The tax credit we’ve got last year was more, way more, than the taxes we paid. So we sold our excess tax credit to another company (via a broker) for 85 cents on the dollar.

But, hey, maybe I’m hallucinating ‘cause (according to you) I’ve never run a business.


63 posted on 12/13/2008 11:00:33 AM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: hunter112

It hasn’t been too widely publicized, but Paulson & Co. forced TARP loans on a lot of banks that didn’t even want them.

A connection of mine works for an investment bank that is in pretty good shape. They had one jerk who had gotten into some bad stuff, but they cleaned that up and were fine. Then Paulson called and said, “You’re taking a loan of bland dollars.” The CEO said, “But we don’t need a loan.” Paulson made it clear they were getting it anyway.

So they discussed the matter, called back, and said, “Gee, thanks for the loan. We really appreciate it.” No point getting into the Treasury’s bad books. And it was an offer they couldn’t refuse.

So I guess now Obama can use TARP regulations to make them do whatever he wants.


64 posted on 12/13/2008 11:01:04 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: rbg81
so my benefits are already paid for.

A luxury indeed, one that 99% of companies do not enjoy.

We are also in a state “development” zone, so we tax credits based on our annual revenue increase and number of employees. Effectively, we make $$ instead of paying taxes.

That's very interesting, I increase my revenues, I have to pay more in taxes. As for employees, you get paid to hire them?

What State do you do business in and are your contracts Government?

65 posted on 12/13/2008 11:02:02 AM PST by Las Vegas Ron (Sho me da BC...mo)
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To: Ethrane

I remember the guy who called Rush about 6 weeks before the election and stated that he and his division managers were working out a plan that would sell or shut down all his extra divisions, and get back to the original core business with the central business. It would involve laying off a great number of employees.
He wouldn’t give his name, nor his state, and any other info. He played it really close to the vest. He said that all would be accomplished by midnight Dec 31.
Rush asked him “aren’t you going to wait until Jan 20”—the guy emphatically said NO- Dec 31 was the close of their fiscal year, and everything would be buttoned up by then.
The guy totally got the future under NObama for a business...of any size.

ATLAS SHRUGGED-—read it or re-read it.


66 posted on 12/13/2008 11:02:43 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: egannacht
Employees don’t understand business either. They actually are happy that less customers walk through the door so they can collect their checks without actually working. I hate people like this (when they are coworkers they hate me too). It's neat to have on my resume that I managed an increase of 40% of clients served in five years. I spent from about 3:30 to 5:00 yesterday answering phone calls while trying to prepare for a project that will start on Monday. As frustrating as each interruption might have been, I know better than to be anything but grateful to anyone who contacts our office. (ie, I know where my lunch comes from)
67 posted on 12/13/2008 11:05:27 AM PST by PrincessB ("I am an expert on my own opinion." - Dave Ramsey)
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To: geo40xyz

Welcome to New Kenya (Africa U.S.A.)

“Where the law of the jungle has replaced the Law of the Land.”

This is the reality of what is coming soon.

But, I pray for my family and Country every night, we need always to remember that he is in control.


68 posted on 12/13/2008 11:08:50 AM PST by Texas Fossil
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To: SeekAndFind; 3D-JOY; abner; Abundy; AGreatPer; Albion Wilde; AliVeritas; alisasny; ...

When taxes, they raise them
Businessmen will say, “SCREW ‘EM!”


69 posted on 12/13/2008 11:10:08 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvxiG56M-eU)
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To: fatima

My daughter was laid off yesterday.Everyone except 2 people got the axe.”

I fear that your daughter and her co-workers are the first passengers on a long, long train that is being engineered by NObama.

I hope she finds a way to make a living soon.


70 posted on 12/13/2008 11:10:35 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: Ethrane

Hopefully the employees who voted for Obama.


71 posted on 12/13/2008 11:11:37 AM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: SeekAndFind
For later.

L

72 posted on 12/13/2008 11:11:59 AM PST by Lurker ("America is at that awkward stage. " Claire Wolfe, call your office.)
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To: ridesthemiles

She had 3 job offers so far.She lives at home so she will be OK.It was her first real job but the company could not meet the bills.The investors pulled out on Friday and she called me crying.Just like that it was everyone’s last day.Thanks ridesthemiles.


73 posted on 12/13/2008 11:22:18 AM PST by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: SeekAndFind

The exceptions to 60-day notice are:

(1) Faltering company. This exception, to be narrowly construed, covers situations where a company has sought new capital or business in order to stay open and where giving notice would ruin the opportunity to get the new capital or business, and applies only to plant closings;

(2) unforeseeable business circumstances. This exception applies to closings and layoffs that are caused by business circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time notice would otherwise have been required; and


74 posted on 12/13/2008 11:27:56 AM PST by EBH ( Directive 10-289)
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To: DogBarkTree

They actually are happy that less customers walk through the door so they can collect their checks without actually working.
You said it. I fired 3 Obama voting, mouth breathing, slack jaws at the end of November. They got the change they deserved.””
You were too kind, IMO. I would have fired them on Nov 5.


75 posted on 12/13/2008 11:28:28 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: hunter112

......Bush is deliberately greasing the skids under the economy as a welcome mat for Zero......

That has been my thought all along. He well remembers there was no, that is 0, transition. Bubba stonewalled him. He well remembers 9/11 and the lies about Al Queda and OBL. They sandbagged him.

The rats crapped in the nest.....now live in it.


76 posted on 12/13/2008 11:29:32 AM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Save America......... put out lots of wafarin (it's working))
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Thanks for the ping.

It was an amazing journey and literally involved blood, sweat and tears.

As a small business owner this rings true...as does the rest of the article.

77 posted on 12/13/2008 11:36:40 AM PST by Focault's Pendulum (Shut Up and Drill!!!)
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To: AlmaKing
You’re an anti-business troll. Go back to DU.

What the heck are you talking about ? Please read first before shooting off your poisoned keyboard.
78 posted on 12/13/2008 11:38:53 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I believe each state has set parameters for WARN, and a company could get around those parameters if they really wanted to.


79 posted on 12/13/2008 11:43:39 AM PST by JavaJumpy
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To: DogBarkTree

“You said it. I fired 3 Obama voting, mouth breathing, slack jaws at the end of November. They got the change they deserved.”

Oh, I think I saw them posting over at DU about how the owner of the business didn’t know squat. :)


80 posted on 12/13/2008 11:48:57 AM PST by JavaJumpy
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