Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

As my wife and I enjoyed our morning cup of coffee, scanning the business section of the Los Angeles Times and discussing the controversial stimulus package under debate on Capitol Hill, we looked at each other as if we had entered a time warp.

We are living in the era of stimulus packages and bailout plans. Stimulus has become another word for pork and out-of-control spending on pet projects. Bailout has become another word for "corporate welfare". What ever happened to the good ole days of fiscal responsibility and responsibility for ourselves? What happened to the era of hard work and recognizing that if we are not responsible for our own dreams and entrepreneurial efforts they simply will not succeed.

For Uncle Sam to bailout out corporate America and the banks who have co-conspired to put the burden of their mismanagement and irresponsibility on the shoulders of the American people is a slap in the face to fiscal responsibility and the American ideal of dreaming dreams that only we, as entrepeneurs, are responsible for.

There are some merits in the current stimulus bill. But the bulk of the package is stuffed with pet projects for the arts and pork spending that simply has no place in a bill allegedly designed to jump-start the U.S. economy.

We should remain sensible, (especially in these seemingly senseless times of expecting the government to do everything for everybody), that despite the woes of Wall Street, the individual entrepreneur has the POWER to overcome the challenges and obstacles and succeed in their efforts. Regardless of whether or not we succeed or fail, a few things should remain certain for the entrepreneur. We learn from our mistakes, take responsibility for them and get back up to do it better the next round.

As Wall Street cries the blues to Washington for a situation created by corporate mogul and politician alike, America has been bombarded with the blame game. As the players point the finger at the other guy, I have yet to witness someone who has taken responsibility for their own actions, pointed the finger at themselves and provided a plan on how THEY will fix it. Instead, they point the finger elsewhere and ask everyone else to solve their problem for them.

I`m just ranting this morning. I am dealing with difficult times and tough challenges in my own business. Things are not easy, indeed. But whatever challenges I face in the arena I`ve chosen are my challenges. The obstacles are mine to overcome and mine alone. Despite difficult times, I sleep well at night in knowing that principle and responsibility trumps the attitude of our "corporate cousins" who have crawled to our Uncle with the never ending cash flow. Let us just remember who fills Uncle Sam`s pockets and let us ask ourselves whether or not we would give our "corporate cousins" our hard-earned money on our own, had Uncle Sam not made the decision for us.

Let us do what we do and do our very best in doing it well. Should things appear dark and hopeless, let`s put our energy in finding solutions and making our ventures better, without expecting the government to do it for us.

Will Griffith, Chairman
The Griffith Corporation
www.griffithcorp.com
Homeland TV Network
Griffith Broadcasting



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Will Griffith
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL

There are no merits to the bailout package or "stimulus" package at all.

You know what the problem is Griffith,
We live in an era where, no one wants to accept responsibility for their own actions. It is much easier to point the finger at the next man, rather than having the "Cojones" to accept their own actions.
Look at the our society... a kid decides to take his own life, and broadcasts himself  "via web cam" to millions of people on the internet. All of a sudden, its not the parents fault, its the Web Site that broadcasted the event... In the mean time, where were the parents?

I can go on for hours, but for the sake of the conversation.... Yes it`s true... Who Bails out the small business owners that have been struggling to stay afloat for the last 5 years?
I think that what they should do with the money is create a package that helps the small business sector. I would love to get a nice cut of that pie, and employ 10 people to help me run the company. But we will never see a dime of that money...
Yet here we are paying High Taxes.... I wonder what would happen to America if everyone just stopped paying their taxes.



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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

"I wonder what would happen to America if everyone just stopped paying their taxes"

Get nominated to government cabinet posts .... ?


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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

To all of the above, your comments have literally brightened my day! The wit, the common sense and the shared sense of frustration lets us know that we`re not alone.

Will Griffith

www.griffithcorp.com




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Will Griffith
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL

I agree with Craig in that I don`t see this spending as putting people back to work, other than those in construction and developing alternative energy for the most part. Seems it`s mostly going to create short term jobs, more government oversight, and a huge debt. This isn`t stimulus.

Not sure how spending almost 1 trillion on this stuff gets business rolling again and 4 million people back into long term jobs.






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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

Yeah ... he still has his Blackberry ....


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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons