The answer would be “YES” if you live in Wisconsin! The answer would be mostly “NO” if you live in NY! The taxpayers of Wisconsin not only survived an all out assault by their own Ruling Class and its Big Labor Comrades, they held off a National assault orchestrated from the White House!

 The very survival of our country is coming down to a crystal clear line in the sand for those with the eyes to see, and the courage to choose wisely. On one side you have the business as usual career politicians and special interests interested only in their own survival, and on the other side are the American People who have had their fill of both!

The creeping shadow of Statism is slowly co-opting our chambers of commerce…even our houses of worship! Our businesses are being strangled by cash-starved and bloated bureaucrats who need to feed! The future Ayn Rand predicted is here! My hope and prayer is that we are on the sunny side of the tipping point. It all comes down to the choices we make. The people we sent to Washington in November have a very BIG choice coming up. But those elected officials who serve in our State Assemblies, Senates and Legislative Offices do as well…

For instance, if a certain Assemblywoman gets a call from one of her constituents inviting her to a special “roundtable” of dedicated citizens and small business owners (Small Business Task Force) who have come together to work “with” government to help make their state a great place to do business again, she has a choice. So lets’ see…we have a group of dedicated citizens, community leaders and stakeholders who have volunteered their time and energy to develop a plan that would benefit ALL New Yorker’s, and they’ve invited her to be a part of the solution. The meeting is scheduled for 8-10am in New Windsor. She has a routine “meet & greet” scheduled in Monroe from 10-12…Can she make it? Will she make it? What would you do?

                                         A Guiding SBTF Principle Set

The current government-business relationship and subsequent rank of New York as the “dead last” business-friendly state in the Union, is a direct result of the current government-business paradigm. Our flaw lies in the “nature” and underlying premise of the current paradigm. For starters, shouldn’t it be a business-government relationship?

Government and Small Business in the State of New York are in an abusive marriage, no different from any other! One side is conditioned to submit to the power of the other. But how is this possible? How did of the people, by the people, for the people become of the government, by the government, for the government?

The answer lies in the identification of all stake holders and their interests. The public employee unions, teachers unions, trade organizations, business associations and the media have all set the “tone” of the conversation. Everyone understands the “pay to play” nature of the current model. But it is a roadmap to failure…and we’re already at the destination!

                             Current Paradigm Premise & Thought Process

Government- “How many eggs can I suck out of this goose without killing it?”

Business- “Where in the hell can I hide my goose?”

                              Future Paradigm Premise & Thought Process

 Government- “How do we get from # 50 to # 1?”

Business- “How do we get from # 50 to # 1?”

                                                        Role of SBTF

 In so far as many of the above-mentioned stake holders are enablers of the current paradigm, it is critical for the SBTF to maintain an independent role owing only to serving the interests of the small business community and galvanizing their support and commitment to the future paradigm through;

• Building relationships with elected officials who share our goals and vision of limited government and free market principles.

• Identifying and supporting candidates for office who share these same goals, vision and principles.

• Developing a series of sector-specific educational forums/networking events for business owners AND their clients.

• Sponsoring a quarterly newsletter.

These are just some of the ideas of things we can do. It is clear to most of us by now that the status quo is unacceptable. If it is to be, it is up to WE!