Small-biz owners fuming over ‘plethora’ of rules

Boston Herald ^ | 7 May 2006 | O’Ryan Johnson

[Radix]

Peabody businessman Bruce Lerner is joining the fast-growing list of entrepreneurs “frustrated out of business” by strict state and local regulations that small-business advocates say are choking the lifeblood of America’s economy.
    “It’s the sheer plethora of regulations,” said Carolyn Logue, a state director with the National Federation of Independent Businesses. “It seems many were just drafted to give someone, somewhere a job to do. Nobody looks at the goals and whether they’re actually accomplishing anything.”
    Three weeks ago, the North Shore Tobacco Control Program sent a 17-year-old decoy into Lerner’s Main Street Smoke Shop in Peabody. She made it 14 feet from the store entrance to the register before a clerk told her to leave because she lacked ID.
    Moments later the antipuffing G-men pounced, slapping Lerner with a $200 fine, not because he sold cigarettes to an underage person - which he hadn’t - but because an underage person had simply walked into his store.
    “I just feel as a business owner for 19 years, what does it benefit me to run a business?” Lerner said. “If the state wants to run my business, they can get up at 4 a.m.”
    Lerner is entertaining offers to sell the shop rather than endure the aggressive policing of the Tobacco Control Program. Logue said that puts him in league with businessmen across the country who, rather than wade through piles of paperwork in a ceaseless battle with bureaucracy, are simply closing shop.
    “That’s the frustration of small business owners who are saying,my employees are safe, I’m doing the right thing,” Logue said. “But someday someone will walk through my door, I don’t know who that person is, but when they show up I’m going to have to pay thousands of dollars as a result.”
    Lerner said he appealed the fine to the Peabody Board of Health, which agreed to waive it as long as there were no further violations. But he said the Tobacco Control Program wants him to lock away all his tobacco, which he refuses to do because it would eliminate his “roll your own cigar” display.
    Asked if he’s being pushed out of business by bureaucracy, Lerner said he hopes not. “Everyone you talk to who’s in a position of power says no,” he said. “But it certainly doesn’t help.”  

[george76]

While the media continues to blame the big oil companies for gouging U.S. motorists as they collect record breaking profits, the windfall profits raked in by the government in the form of energy tax revenue actually dwarf the oil companies' jackpot.

The press sounded the alarm last year when the largest U.S. oil company, Exxon Mobil Corp, announced profits of $36 billion. But according to the Tax Foundation, the biggest price gouging profiteer was the U.S. government, cashing in to the tune of $54 billion in oil and gas taxes.

"Tax collections on the production and import of gasoline by state and federal governments are already near historic highs," the think tank says. "In fact, in recent decades governments have collected far more revenue from gasoline taxes than the largest U.S. oil companies have collectively earned in domestic profits."

Since 1977, federal and state governments have collected more than $1.34 trillion in gasoline tax revenues in inflation adjusted dollars. That's "more than twice the amount of domestic profits earned by major U.S. oil companies during the same period," the Tax Foundation says.

Still, despite government tax gouging on oil industry revenue, Democrats like Sen. Charles Schumer want to raise energy taxes even more - complaining that oil company profiteering is simply just unconscionable.

[BIGZ]

My argument for years. The United States is losing jobs overseas, not because of cheap labor but because of this BS.

[mewzilla]

Census estimate a concern for state (Taxachussetts losing a House seat)

Go figure.

[eXe]

I refuse to show my ID anymore to buy anything. I am 40 and when they ask me for ID I flat out refuse and loudly tell them why. Will it change anything? Probably not.. but I refuse to be a sheep who hands over my "papers"

I can buy ciggs somewhere else.. its that simple.

[spinestein]

[...a bottomless supply of "new" regulatory posters for both Federal and State policies. Apparently, the day is not far off when an entire wall may need to be dedicated to the display of these Orwellian tracts.]



Uuuuuuum....that day is already here.

The small factory I work in has a wall by the time clock completely covered with the laminated posters issued by the state and federal governments and MANDATED to be displayed prominently where employees can see them.

They cover OSHA rules, minimum wage, employee rights and some really stupid stuff like how to behave if a fellow employee becomes disgruntled and starts waving a machine gun around and threatening to kill everybody. It recommends: "Don't panic." and "Stay calm." and "Don't focus on the weapon." (Really! I'm not making this crap up!)

I can see this happening in my workplace. I'd have to say to the crazy person waving the gun around, "You'll just have to hold on a second, pal. I need to go check that poster over there on the wall and see what some federal government committee thinks I should do in this situation."

But my favorite one is the sexual harassment policy poster. It says in great big red letters across the top:

SEXUAL HARRASSMENT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW!!

Yes, it actually does have two exclamation points at the end. It goes on to define all the possible ways that sexual harassment can take place, and the serious consequences to the individual who engages in it, but mostly how much it's going to cost the company which employed him.

[Gabz]

A few weeks back, I was told to give my drivers license so they could swipe it (magnetic strip) after asking for a pack of smokes at a Holiday Station Store before I could purchase them. 49 yrs. old here....

I dont' mind showing the ID - I will not permit it to be swiped for any reason.

The swiping of the DL for purpose of cigarette/tobacco purchases is brought to you courtesy of RWJF.........you will be getting junk mail and unwanted phone calls - all about quitting smoking.

[ran15]

Yes some of the major democrat cities are already in population decline. The productive citizens seek out opportunity elsewhere.

[Gabz]

The United States is losing jobs overseas, not because of cheap labor but because of this BS.

Like you, that has been my position for years, as well.

[EGPWS]

I can buy ciggs somewhere else..

As I do.

Ironically, I still buy them from the same vendor but at a different location which doesn't require such a scrutiny of information.

They got busted years ago for selling to a minor via a "sting" and are required to assure the 0 tolerance of selling to minors.

Again, via government regulation, common sense is tossed out the window.

[ran15]

Thats a good idea.. a step in the right direction. I like an idea like this.. any new tax takes 55% to vote in.. and any tax cuts only take 45% to pass.

Same thing should go for regulations or even more weighted in favor of elimination. Issues where there is a broad consensus won't have problems passing, but special interest nanny state rules will be harder.

[spinestein]

[I refuse to be a sheep who hands over my "papers" ]




Well said.

[elkfersupper]

I do the same thing. I'm 54 with gray hair everywhere - including full beard and mustache.

I'm just too old and cranky to put up with that crap.

[Radix]

Which Heinlein book was that in? I've read a few but that quote does not come to mind.

[Radix]

If God really loves us, we here in Massachusetts will lose two Congressional seats next time around.

I so despise our delegation.

[ran15]

The United States is losing jobs overseas, not because of cheap labor but because of this BS.

Yes.. I notice Japan isn't losing any jobs overseas. In fact even as they have dramatically expanded both imports and exports over the last few years they are having serious labor shortages in the high end jobs.

Can you imagine the Japanese government going after Toyota with lawsuits and bureaucrats like our government goes after Walmart?

[mewzilla]

We here in NYS are in the same boat. Sigh.

[EGPWS]

.........you will be getting junk mail and unwanted phone calls - all about quitting smoking.

Whew! Is THAT all?

I was concerned for receiving "junk" mail via making my own decisions and having smoking as one of them.

I anticipated the "junk" mail to reference my need for help in making personal decisions outside of the realm of political normalcy...

After all, just because a lifestyle is legal doesn't make it acceptable. (go figure)

[dljordan]

"The guy just started checking off multiple $1000 violations for improper labeling and open containers and unsecured cabinets simply because of a temporary usage condition."

He should have been "disappeared" right there.

[EGPWS]

I refuse to show my ID anymore to buy anything.

When one has an unlimited credit card, well I appreciate it when they ask for an ID.

A couple of day's ago I made a purchase on a CC and the sales attendant had the perfect way to bring up ID verification.

She asked: "Would you like for me to verify identification on your card sir"?

I didn't hesitate for I knew I was the one toting my card! ; )

More can be achieved via honey than by vinegar...

[patton]

My DL seems to have broken in half, in the middle of the magnetic stripe. No idea how that happend...