“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master — that’s all.”
Through The Looking Glass – Chapter VI
Lewis Carroll
Small business accounts for over 65% of all new jobs. If you wanted to create new jobs (I mean, if that was your actual goal and not just a cover story) you might decide to sit down with people who represent small business interests. The guest list for an actual, according to Hoyle, “Job Summit” then, might look like this:
- The Chamber of Commerce
- The National Federation of Independent Business
- The National Association of Manufactures
- and so on…
If, on the other hand, your actual goal was to consolidate power and become the de facto benefactor of jobs, you might want to sit down with the people who kill small business on a regular basis. To keep things simple, you should probably limit yourself to those with whom you are already sleeping. The guest list might look like this:
- The Service Employees International Union (S.E.I.U.)
- The American Federation of Teachers
- The United Steel Workers Union
- Policy wonks with absolutely no real world business experience
- And of course, Paul Krugman (an economist/columnist so far to the left he can’t ever be right)
Which list do you think showed up for the White House “Job” Summit?
To paraphrase Lewis Carroll (and, quite possibly, President Obama?):
“It is a job summit damn it! It is because I say it is. The question is, which is to be master: you… or me. That is all.”
Dennis says:
Sean , this is no different than any other initiative (health care, TARP, foreclosure prevention, etc) – they dont care for our opinion. Imagine what might have come up if REALTORS (not NAR) were invited to provide input? Not until we band together and vote all these jerks out will we send a message. It is absolutely rediculous.
December 7, 2009 — 5:23 pm
Michael Patton says:
Sean,
I believe it’s an inherent problem that those who are independent, industrious and resourceful are less likely to “pull together” to do anything as a group. This is the very definition of “pro business/small government”
Thus those who desire to manipulate the efforts and outcome are likely to have an advantage by “rallying the troops” of entitlement types of people and groups. This is the very definition of “big government”.
I appreciate the way you’ve presented your views on this – and plan on spreading your comments near and far… so much easier to understand you than those TV Pundits!
December 7, 2009 — 6:57 pm
Ashlee says:
Great thoughts! I have to agree with Michael in that most small business owners will not band together to get something accomplished. They would rather just gain all the business and hope they make it!
December 7, 2009 — 8:39 pm
Jessica Horton says:
Treason (blasphemy?)!!! Don’t question the polices of our Commander in Speech!
December 8, 2009 — 8:48 am
Al Lorenz says:
I hadn’t been paying much attention to the “jobs” summit. Your question about who showed up really points out all one needs to know. Applying the “Through the Looking Glass” quote here is so apropo.
December 8, 2009 — 11:18 am