According to Economist Michael Snyder, author of The Beginning of the End, the percentage of Americans that are working for themselves has never been lower in the history of the United States. This is a troubling development.
One of the things that is not very well understood about Progressive policy is that it is virtually one in the same with corporatism. Under Progressives, small business entrepreneurship tends to fade while big businesses (that are tied to government) flourish. Progressives would prefer that most people either work in government jobs or in large businesses that can be controlled by government, because it gives them more influence and it is easier to collect taxes. At the extreme socialistic end of this continuum, all businesses would be directly managed by government. Small businesses are more difficult to control.
Political philosophy aside, a strong argument can be made that this trend has been awful for community. Small businesses not only provide creativity and new energy but they also provide neighborhood capital and a sense of belonging. People like small businesses and small businesses tend to be good for communities.
Just think about the great small businesses in the Nashua area. How would you feel if all of them were connected to corporate chains? Would you get the same satisfaction from patronizing them? Many of them are being regulated out of business.
If we want to see communities flourish again we should recommit to small business. We should buy local even if we have to pay a bit more. And we should support political policies and political leaders that support decentralization. Unfortunately, President Obama does not appear to be one of them, nor does his political philosophy support private small business entrepreneurship.
Virtually all of the Progressives in both parties this century have been corporatists. It is time for revolutionary change.
