President Barack Obama: Interesting Times for Small Business

America's 2008 presidential election didn't turn out the way I'd hoped.

Barack Obama won the popular vote by a comfortable (for him) percentage, and walked away with the electoral college. Barring catastrophe, he'll be president for the next four years. Maybe eight.

I can't say that I'm looking forward to that, but this is no time for hand-wringing.

Small Business and the Obama Presidency

I'm far enough below Obama's various 'tax-em' income thresholds to be (relatively) safe. Inheritance tax, though, will probably be another issue.

Everyone who's trying to run a business can, I think, expect:

• More regulations, sensible and otherwise
• More
  • Taxes
  • Fees
  • Forms to fill out

And, since it looks like employers will have their taxes and regulatory expenses increased, they'll have to lay off workers, or cut wages - and aren't all that likely to hire new people.

Which means that ordinary folks won't be spending as much - even if Uncle Sam throws out the occasional bonus for breathing.

And, enterprises won't be buying each others' goods and services. Which means more cutbacks.

But, you know this already.

Adjusting to President Obama's America

I said 'no hand-wringing,' and meant it. The fact is, the next four years aren't likely to be boom times.

Some businesses may do well under the new administration. Obama's taste for huge outdoor events may create a sort of micro-boom for caterers and related businesses. At least, in the Washington, D.C., area.

And there may be a growing demand for services and consultants who can give practical advice for how to deal with regulatory changes du jure.

My business, so far, has been entirely online. That's good news, in a way, since I don't have the worries that brick-and-mortar businesses will have.

On the other hand, I'm an online publisher. If the Obama campaign's blacklisting of a Florida television station and removing non-adulatory reporters from the campaign plane are a sign of things to come, we're in for exciting times.

I was on college campuses in the seventies and eighties, and experienced political correctness. As an outsider. Another era of having to keep up with the latest shibboleths won't be fun, but I'd manage. And, I'm keeping a weather eye for changes in what 'freedom of expression' means.

Paranoid? Hardly. But, having experienced the tail-end of the conformist fifties, and a later decade's tender sensibilities, I have some idea of how far human silliness can go.

Barack Obama as President: it Won't be Boring

Ten years ago, Minnesota elected Jesse "The Governor" Ventura as Governor. We had a colorful four years, while he was in office. Barack Obama isn't Jesse Ventura, but there are parallels: "Barack Obama: America's Jesse "The Governor" Ventura? "> (Another War-on-Terror Blog ((November 5, 2008)).



Previous posts on this topic:

• "Obama Campaign Boots Reporters: This Should Concern You "
  (October 31, 2008)
• "Marxism: It Looks So Good on Paper"
  (October 28, 2008)
• "Florida: Hotbed of Hate or Land of Opportunity?"
  (October 28, 2008)
• "Barack Obama: Lack of "Redistributive Change" Was Tragedy of Civil Rights Movement"
  (October 27, 2008)
• " 'Spread the Wealth Around,' 'Change,' 'Redistributive Change' What's the Big Deal? "
  (October 27, 2008)
• "Am I a Partisan?"
  (October 27, 2008)
• "Biden Interview about Barack Obama Campaign: ACORN, Redistrubion of Wealth, Marxism, and Other Impertinent Questions "
  (October 26, 2008)
• "Joe the Plumber Asked the Wrong Question "
  (October 25, 2008)
• "FBI and Republicans in "Unholy Alliance" to Stop ACORN and Obama: Of Course! It all Makes Sense Now "
  (October 17, 2008)
• " 'Joe the Plumber' Wurzelbacher: American Taxpayer, Entrepreneur, and Voice of Reason in 2008 Election "
  (October 16, 2008)