Why Are Businesses Sitting on the Sidelines?
The answer is very simple: government. The federal government needs to get out of the way and let businesses do what they do best, creating jobs and stimulating the economy. Government can do neither because it does not produce either products or services. Despite its good intentions and misguided political or social agendas, the federal government only serves to stifle economic investment and growth at the expense of taxpayers. Smaller government and less regulation are the answer as Government Overregulation Threatens Economic Growth.
Unfortunately, the current Administration continues to push its social agenda to the detriment of the very people who can turn the ship around. Although Worries Grow Over Jobs, Obama continues his Plan to Ease Way for Unions. Most recently, the National Labor Relations Board and the Department of Labor launched a “joint attack” against employers (see NLRB and DOL Launch Joint Attack on Employer Rights, New Rule Proposed On Employers’ Use Of Union Consultants and Employers Criticize Proposal to Speed Union Votes). Additionally, the Administration introduced legislation which has been dubbed ”The Latest Job Killer From the EPA,” an attempt to control ozone commissions under the cover of Climate Change. These regulations are recognized as a “Death Penalty for Employees and Employers.” When presented with the fact that businesses are waiting to hire or expand operations due to regulatory uncertainties, President Obama only responds that “the business community always complains about regulation” (see President Obama: The Business Community Is Always Complaining About Regulation). Adding salt to the wound, he continues to support his radical appointees in the NLRB who, in turn, push his pro-labor agenda, providing yet another obstacle for business to overcome (see NLRB Pleases Unions By Strangling Economy). Although publicly Obama Urges Independent Agencies To Shed Burdensome Rules, his actions speak louder than his disingenuous words.
Most recently, the prolonged budget/debt limit fight, which was finally resolved, had been added to the mix. Big labor bosses found the proposal unacceptable (see Labor’s Discontent with Obama Surfaces Yet Again) seeing the crisis as an opportunity to push their agenda. The President, too, used the opportunity to attempt to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans and businesses, as described in Obama’s Debt-Ceiling Opportunity. With all of this in mind, the question has to be framed Was the Debt Ceiling Used to Cover Gift Giving to Big Labor? Obviously the combination of all of this is an attempt to foment class warfare, achieve his social justice agenda, solidify the big labor base (as Unions Rethink Support For Obama in 2012), and expand his base of Americans dependent on government support heading into the 2012 elections.
The Disappearing Recovery seems to fit right in line with the President’s long-term socialistic agenda and short-term election agenda, as witnessed by the fact that when Unemployment Goes Up, Obama Declares Victory. In both agendas, it is imperative that a majority of the people (voters) are dependent on government welfare, whether it is through union handouts, corporate subsidies, welfare, unemployment benefits or entitlement programs. Obama, in addition to his graceful rhetoric, is politically savvy, as described in Rule by Fiat, and understands he must develop dependency, as witnessed in the President’s Job Plan (Not). In short, he is a political animal dedicated to his cause and has managed to once again use debt ceiling sleight of hand to distract the American people from the economy, jobs and his true agenda.
Is it just coincidence this all occurred and was resolved right before Congress leaves on summer break and doesn’t reconvene until after Labor Day? I think not. After all, it puts the economy and stagnant job growth on the back burner for a month, provides the rogue NLRB an opportunity to further push through their regulatory agenda (see Card Check through Regulation vs. Legislation), allows an opportunity for Obama to reappoint Wilma Liebman, whom Congress has opposed, as head of the NLRB through a recess appointment, and allows the President to go back on the campaign trail starting with his August 4th $35,800/head Birthday Bash in Chicago. Nothing could be finer as his plan for re-election continues to develop at the expense of American business and the Americans it employs.
It is imperative all Americans understand that the fundamental difference between business and big government is tantamount to the difference between the free market and socialism. Big government makes a living off spewing misleading statistics and producing nothing tangible except fomenting class warfare and breeding dependency. Businesses and the maligned wealthy live in a world of real numbers and produce tangible services and products, but most importantly jobs, which are the most critical component of a full economic recovery. Unfortunately, Ayn Rand was Right: Wealthy Are on Strike Against Obama and will continue to be until he wakes up or his defeated in November 2012. In the meantime we are doomed to continuing economic decline and rising unemployment.
About the author: David A. Bego is the President and CEO of EMS, an industry leader in the field of environmental workplace maintenance, employing nearly 5000 workers in thirty-three states. Bego is the author of “The Devil at My Doorstep,” based on his experiences fighting back against one of the most powerful unions in existence today.