Jack Faris: Like Ducks in a Shooting Gallery?

By Jack Faris

There are few ceremonies as impressive as the inauguration of a president. Regardless of one’s political views, this awesome tradition is reassuring to all who truly believe in a democratic government. But on Inauguration Day, the roar of the cannons had hardly stopped echoing on Capitol Hill before it was displaced by the plinking of partisan potshots. The reverential atmosphere quickly reverted to a carnival-like air.

Small-business owners, their spirits lofted by the historical demonstration, suddenly found themselves like the ducks in a shooting gallery when anti-small-business lawmakers floated an amendment that would raise the federal minimum wage to seven dollars an hour.

Already bobbing and weaving to survive a withering fire of rapidly-rising health-care costs, excessive government regulations and oppressive taxes, these entrepreneurs are struggling mightily to maintain their self-images as eagles of free enterprise. Unfortunately, while they see themselves soaring on wings of hard work, determination and passion for the American dream, too many politicians view them as targets for an ill-conceived social agenda.

Few elected officials have ever experienced the roller-coaster thrills of starting a small business. True, there are lots of ups-and-downs, but the optimistic nature of those who dare to take risks and start a business is such that they believe they can not only survive the initial wild ride, but also direct the coaster so that it goes in only one direction-up towards success.

Far too many of these elected officials don’t have a clue that their misdirected ideas are dangerous obstacles tossed onto the tracks of free enterprise. They can derail the sector of the nation’s economy that generates the greatest share of new jobs and introduces future generations of entrepreneurs to virtually unlimited opportunities.

“Step right up,” the politicos yell like side-show barkers. “Take yer chances and raise the minimum wage to seven dollars. Pay no attention to the fact that an overwhelming majority of economists say such a step will kill jobs. Don’t worry about mandatory pay increases reducing employment opportunities for those people with the lowest skills.”

“Take good aim and bull’s-eye this wage hike,” the carnies bellow. “These small businesses can survive a 36 percent increase in labor costs on top of everything else that they’re targets for. Don’t worry about a ripple effect on the nation’s economy. Don’t be concerned over the inevitable cutbacks in health-care coverage that will follow-just because small firms are already facing 15 percent to 20 percent increases in their health premiums is no reason to fret.”

Plinking away at the ducks in a shooting gallery may seem like fun, but lawmakers who think small businesses are easy targets might want to mark their calendars for Election Day, 2006. That’s when millions of American entrepreneurs will step right up and have their turn at the politician-dunking booth.


Jack Faris is president of NFIB (the National Federation of Independent Business), the nation’s largest small-business advocacy group. A non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals. More information is available on-line at www.NFIB.com.