Government and Economy
Can Small Businesses be Exempted from Card Check Unionization?
While small business groups are readying their opposition to new card check legislation, many are hopeful that after compromise negotiations in Congress, small business will be exempt. WSJ.com
Local Economies Seeking Their Own Stimulus
Cities, counties and states across the nation are launching home-grown economic-stimulus plans aimed at spurring local spending and keeping small businesses afloat during the recession. WSJ.com
By Charles M Cooper · March 12 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government and Economy
Small Business Cries Foul on Tax Hikes
Small business owners and their Washington advocates are coming out against President Obama’s plan to raise income tax rates for America’s wealthiest in 2011, calling it is an ill-timed attack on small businesses that will stymie job growth. Politico.com
Card Check Far From Decided
Both sides argue it’s a matter of fairness. According to Labor, the secret-ballot system invites employer intimidation. For the employers, an open card check system means more union pressure on their employees. Both sides are gearing up for a fight. Bloomberg.com
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By Charles M Cooper · March 11 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
The title of the study by University of Michigan researchers Hyunjin Song and Norbert Schwarz says it all: If It's Difficult to Pronounce, It Must Be Risky--Fluency, Familiarity, and Risk Perception. They base their conclusion, that the harder it is to pronounce something, the less familiar it seems and, therefore, the greater the risk it presents, on three studies. In Studies 1 and 2, food additives were rated as more harmful when their names were difficult to pronounce than when their names were easy to pronounce. Analyses of the data indicated that this was due to the perceived novelty of the substance. In Study 3, amusement-park rides were rated as more likely to make one sick (an undesirable risk) and also as more exciting and adventurous (a desirable risk) when their names were difficult to pronounce than when their names were easy to pronounce.
Here is how the research was done: Subjects were asked to rat...
By Charles M Cooper · March 11 2009
small business, Advertising, words, risk
Government and Economy
Small Business Optimism Falls
Small business optimism fell another 1.5 points to 82.6 in February, according to the National Federation of Independent Business's Small Business Optimism Index. This the second lowest rating in the 35-year history of the survey. Forbes.com
Treasury Promises Spur to Small Business
In a closed-door meeting with House Democrats, Treasury Secretary Geithner said Obama officials are working on plans to boost liquidity for small businesses as part of the administration's broadening efforts to spur lending and arrest the pace of job losses WSJ.com
Management and Financial Issues
By Charles M Cooper · March 10 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government and Economy
Small Business Not Sold on Robin Hood Economics
The spending plan President Obama sent to Congress would take nearly $1 trillion from the rich in new taxes and give it to the poor in new tax cuts, college loans and socialized medicine; but small business advocates are worried about the problems that punishing Wall Street will cause on Main Street. WashingtonPost.com
Management and Financial Issues
VCs Call for Frugality
There is less money available to entrepreneurs these days and with fewer startups being bought, ventur...
By Charles M Cooper · March 09 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government and Economy
Obama: Economic Radicalism
It's becoming self-evident that the ongoing Wall Street decline and growing fears among small business owners stem, at least in part, from the realization that President Obama's policies are really meant to radically alter the US economy, as opposed to merely mitigating the financial crisis. WSJ.com
Coming Tax Breaks May be Funded by Higher Energy Costs
President Obama is promising to return auction money to Americans, via a tax cut he proposed on the campaign trail, a move called "sleight of hand," since people were counting on a tax cut in any event and now early cap-and-trade...
By Charles M Cooper · March 06 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government and Economy
Small Business on the Stimulus Package
What do the microbusinesses of America really think about President Obama's stimulus package? BusinessKnowHow.com
Grassley Speaks-up for Small Business at Geithner Hearings
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) defended the needs of small business during Treasury Secretary Geithner's testimony before the Senate Finance Committee. “I don’t understand why you would charge small business operators more t...
By Charles M Cooper · March 05 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government and Economy
Small Business Help from the Government
From tax advice to government contracting, the SBA, other agencies and advocacy groups are increasingly reaching out to small businesses online. BusinessWeek.com
Treasury Secretary: Tax Hikes NecessaryPresident Obama's Treasury secretary is defending proposed tax increases on the wealthy by explaining that such increases are necessary to limit future budget deficits. USAToday.com
Obam...
By Charles M Cooper · March 04 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
