To start this post, I will admit that I am a capitalist.  I believe there is great opportunity here in the United States of America.  Whether you are rich or poor, by using all the resources available, any person with will, determination and talent can start their own business.  Maybe you don’t have a degree from Harvard or Yale but there are so many resources available to study any subject you want that it would be impossible in a lifetime to study it all.  If you can’t afford higher education or life doesn’t permit you spending four more years in school there is a wealth of information available in the libraries, on the internet, at bookstores or just through work experiences. 

It’s two weeks till the presidential elections.  Following the presidential campaigns and the candidates closely, I am both amazed and offended about how some political powers always come around to knocking the business person.  When business is good the liberal politicians want to tax businesses and redistribute the wealth.  When business conditions are bad, the average entrepreneur is on their own, the government has no interest in giving them a helping hand. 

All I hear is “the wealthy” should be taxed more and that those tax dollars should be given to the unfortunate people who have less.  Even though I tend to lean toward the conservative side, I still believe in social programs to help the unfortunate survive through their difficulty.  No child should be hungry.  Individuals and families should be given assistance in times of great and unforeseen need. 

Unfortunately, I’ve seen our country go from a productive society to a large group of people who have their hand out, who want the productive people to take care of them.  If we continue on this path, the United States will have created an even bigger government with more social programs; giving more money and more services to more citizens.

Business leaders need to stand up and fight for what they believe in.

I come from a working-class background in a blue-collar town, Pittsburgh, PA.  For 47 years my father was a truck driver for a grocery chain.  He worked long hours to provide what the family needed and to give the family a good life.  I have never forgotten those basic values.

Business people spur the economy with the companies and the jobs they create.  The money business people make isn’t kept under a mattress.  They deposit the money in banks so banks have capital to lend to people for business projects, mortgages, college tuition and much more. Business people keep the economy moving.

Although there are unfortunate people who for whatever reason are poor, there is still vast opportunity in this country.  Let’s take care of the unfortunate people and expect the others to go to work and take advantage of all the opportunities this country has.