Paramount Theatre
Libertarians Think Small-Business Owners Capitalist Pigs
RECEIVED Fri., Aug. 15, 2003
Progressive Austinites should question their doting support for small businesses. Much of what they hate about large corporations may be worse in small businesses in an impact-per-person comparison.
Small businesses are exempt from many environmental and labor regulations and provide fewer health care benefits and lower pay. Small businesses form S-Corps and LLC's to eliminate dividend taxation and use dividend payments to avoid payroll taxes. Shallow pockets further indemnify these entrepreneurs against tort liability. Small business waitstaff and live musicians routinely underreport cash tips to dodge taxes.
Nepotism runs rampant, while programs common to large corporations such as diversity, ergonomics, sensitivity, and work-life balance training are rare in small businesses.
Fortune ranked the National Federation of Independent Businesses the third most powerful lobbying organization behind only the NRA and AARP.
Locally, some small businesses secured favorable exemptions from the Austin City Council from the now-failing smoking ban. Others effectively killed light rail.
Small-business owners sneer at those who prefer purchasing low-priced products for their families from big-box retailers and national chains over enriching owners of boutiques and local eateries. Local owners join the Liveable City bandwagon of gullible citizens to lynch Wal-Marts, Lowe's, and Borders, because – you figure it out.
Small-business owners are such capitalist pigs that high-level National Libertarian Party officials cite small-business owners as prime targets for outreach.
Don't misunderstand me. As a Libertarian and former Austin business owner, I agree our unique small businesses are wonderful for our community. But our large corporations and shareholders employ a lot of good, hard-working men and women who deserve respect and appreciation for their contribution to Austin. Without them, Austin would become a weird ghost town.
Small businesses are exempt from many environmental and labor regulations and provide fewer health care benefits and lower pay. Small businesses form S-Corps and LLC's to eliminate dividend taxation and use dividend payments to avoid payroll taxes. Shallow pockets further indemnify these entrepreneurs against tort liability. Small business waitstaff and live musicians routinely underreport cash tips to dodge taxes.
Nepotism runs rampant, while programs common to large corporations such as diversity, ergonomics, sensitivity, and work-life balance training are rare in small businesses.
Fortune ranked the National Federation of Independent Businesses the third most powerful lobbying organization behind only the NRA and AARP.
Locally, some small businesses secured favorable exemptions from the Austin City Council from the now-failing smoking ban. Others effectively killed light rail.
Small-business owners sneer at those who prefer purchasing low-priced products for their families from big-box retailers and national chains over enriching owners of boutiques and local eateries. Local owners join the Liveable City bandwagon of gullible citizens to lynch Wal-Marts, Lowe's, and Borders, because – you figure it out.
Small-business owners are such capitalist pigs that high-level National Libertarian Party officials cite small-business owners as prime targets for outreach.
Don't misunderstand me. As a Libertarian and former Austin business owner, I agree our unique small businesses are wonderful for our community. But our large corporations and shareholders employ a lot of good, hard-working men and women who deserve respect and appreciation for their contribution to Austin. Without them, Austin would become a weird ghost town.
Wes Benedict
