Carly Fiorina got me thinking when she said, big business loves big government. She opened my eyes to the fact that heavy regulation costs money and big businesses are able to absorb those costs while small businesses are crushed. Heavy regulation creates barriers to entry for small businesses and thus, inhibits competition for big businesses. The last couple of years has brought this truism home.
The Chamber of Commerce is now in the pocket of big government. They saw efforts to curb Chinese wrongs as an affront to their goals. Their position was then translated into political actions against a Republican President and his re-election campaign. Big businesses, including the tech giants, are getting as woke as possible including spreading falsehoods in line with the current administration. They jumped on the lie that efforts to secure free and fair elections, are actually efforts to suppress voters. Why? They know where their bread is buttered!
Despite all the talk about how small businesses are the bedrock of our economy, what did government do during this pandemic? They killed small businesses. Requirements for social distancing, closures, designation of “essential” businesses all served to elevate big business (Amazon?) and wreck mom and pop shops. Just look what New York did to its vibrant restaurant sector.
Big business loves big government. They have the money to lobby and control the regulations that thwart others while they prosper. Big government loves big business because they control the narrative through mass and social media. They contribute the big money to re-election campaigns. This symbiotic relationship is the true death of democracy as government now has a propaganda enterprise they can count on. What can we expect from this joining of two behemoths?
Corporate America will lobby Congress desperately to control the way they do their accounting. Under the guise of tax reform and “closing loopholes”, corporations and other big businesses will get Congress to carve out their special places. When all is said and done, these businesses will pass on whatever additional costs they bear to consumers. Corporate taxes are merely a pass through to you and me.
You will see nothing done to curb the power of media. Slander and libel laws will remain squarely in favor of media so they can continue to propagandize for the administration. The section 320 conversation is already gone. Those in power see a boon for themselves having free rein to say anything they want, true or not, and get no pushback from the 4th estate. Once election laws are bastardized to assure one-party rule, there will be no difference between the official administration talking points and what you read and hear from the media. Those that dare to offer alternative views will be eliminated. FOX news will be regulated, taxed, and sued into oblivion.
So, what can this little peon do? I will vote with my dollars, I’m willing to pay more to a small business and for stuff “Made in America”. While I love low prices, I now see how they have corrupted our society into thinking that is the most important reason for a purchase. It’s not. Keeping small businesses viable is more important than the additional 5-10% I might pay for goods and services. (If “competition” is between large companies, what do you think will happen to pricing?) I’ll continue to call on my “representatives” to remove the unnecessary barriers before small businesses like licensing, continuing education requirements, and fees to name a few. It’s not over but without standing up now, it could very well be soon.
Current Day Publius 