Government, Politics and the Economy The People's Stimulus It's not what Congress or the President had in mind, but towns are using $2 bills and "buy local" promotions to launch their own stimulus efforts to keep local merchants in business. CNNMoney.com Obama and the Entrepreneur: The Story Behind the Photo When President Obama made his way out of a town-hall event, there was one persistent small business owner pressed him on the issue of taxes. NYTimes.com [Read Full Article]

  Government, Politics and the Economy Pitching in for Main Street: A Short-Term Fix or Long-Term Prosperity? The economic downturn has prompted many consumers and neighborhood groups to actively support small businesses in their local communities, as residents pitch in to try to avoid boarded-up shops on Main Street. Still, it remains unclear whether buy-local campaigns provide just a short-term boost or a lasting impact on revenues. WSJ.com Dumbest Moments in Business 2009 The first six months of 2009 has, so far, been filled with business and economic decisions that have left us all scratching our heads. From this embarass... [Read Full Article]

Politics and Economics Last Words from the Candidates Today, November 3, the Wall Street Journal published pieces by Barack Obama and John McCain that highlight key elements of their economic platforms.   Are You Worn Out and Frustrated by The Issues? You Are Not Alone. Both presidential hopefuls have talked about small business more than candidates in other recent elections, but for small business owners, problem is that too many issues are confronting them all at once. Chicago Tribune (free registration) Department of D... [Read Full Article]