Was everyone else wondering why the economy was so anemic? Of course, people who would read this blog weren't. I'm already considering you some of the most informed people on the planet. I know of some people, though, who just didn't understand how the stimulus, green energy programs, Obamacare, etc. weren't creating jobs, and getting us moving again! They were impassioned that he was doing the right thing, sticking up for their vaginas, and giving out free crap that the rest of us will need to pay for.
Being in business, I informed my friends that the impending "taxmageddon" that was fast approaching, along with the amount of taxes that were pending if Obamacare was fully implemented, and that businesses were stagnant and waiting to see what these miserable policies would do to their bottom line. See, businesses don't have unlimited funds, so they actually have to have a budget, meet payroll, and provide insurance for their employees. Businesses either sell a service or a product, and based on demand of either, that drives their profit margin. If businesses are lucky enough to make a profit, and if demand continues to grow, then they expand by hiring more people. And so the cycle goes. Times are good, they continue to grow, and they continue to hire more people. Times are bad, they have to adjust, lay people off, close up shop, shut down entirely...
The last 3.5 years, times have been somewhere in the middle. Businesses were scared to hire, because of the impending costs headed their way if the policies enacted by the government, but their profit margin was good enough to where they weren't losing money either. Businesses held fast and firm, and they made a plan. They forecasted. They were able to determine that if the republicans won, and a repeal of Obamacare began, then they could go ahead and expand, hire more people, etc. If the Dems won, then they knew that times were headed in the other direction. Game over, time to adjust forecasts for the impending costs that were going to come roaring at them like a freight train.
Today, 5 pages of some high profile businesses announced that they were cutting their overhead through layoffs or through hours reduction for staff due to Obama winning the election. Now, these were businesses that were able to stay open, and they are going through restructuring. What I would like to focus on are the little guys; those businesses that don't have the capital to weather a storm like the one coming. The mom and pop shops who are lucky enough to hire a couple of people so they aren't required to be at the place every waking moment.
One guy I work with, his father owns a workshop/vehicle repair shop. He's laying off 2 of his 10 employees. Another co-worker's father was laid off beginning 12/1 due to the coming storm. Another co-worker's father who owns a business that subcontracts through a state agency is cutting 3 employees from his staff, and going from 10 state regions down to 8. This means less people are covering more territory. On the radio, I hear business owners calling in and stating that they're done. Atlas has shrugged. Why would they want to continue climbing a mountain that is just not navigable? Why put forth the effort? It's sad.
I'm hopeful that at some point we can overcome the madness. I mean, this is America. Generally, after an election, there is some fallout of some sort. But this has been brewing for years. The uncertainty, the not knowing what's coming, and the virtual unknown of who will vote for who literally held our economy in the balance. On Thursday, we found out which way the hammer would fall. It will continue to fall as the idiots in Washington make their laws and watch the ants scramble to try and meet their demands.
It shouldn't be like this. We should not be beholden to our government. They work for us dammit! At some point, we have to make a stand, but that is for another day. All we can do is hold them accountable every 2/4/6 years, and I want all of you to do that. It's time. We are still half the country. I hope we have learned from this, and I hope that when the fallout is over, when it's time for us to regroup and come roaring back, that we do so like we own the country. Because, you know what? We do! But until then, don't blame me. I voted for Romney.
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