[Paul R.]

I don't see unemployment rates as an accurate measure of small-business activity. The person who has the capacity and the drive to start a business may not be the same as a typical long-term unemployed person.

Change that "may" to "is" and I agree 100%. Heck, the person who has the capacity and the drive to start a business is not the same as a TYPICAL long-term 8 am to 5 pm employed person.

[21twelve]

I think the idea isn't that the entrepreneur is the one having a “job” - it is that the entrepreneur hires 2-20 people for his business. 100,000 new businesses (back in the 80’s) means 200,000 to 2,000,000 new jobs.

And of course it goes the other way when 70,000 businesses close.