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I've got to weigh in with you. I to was D/S in the 80-90's as electronics moved to Japan. Started my own business, and having a lot of fun. But I did learn not to live as large as I have seen a lot of IT people. 500k house, 50k car, 30K on credit cards, thirty years old and not a penny in the bank.

I want to make a few quick points. Most people in the US are not employed by the Big Co's and most are not in IT.

I don't think many posters have a business that employes many people, and I don't either, only 10. But I can tell you that the business climate has changed drastically over the past few years. Costs have gone up dramatically.

Just before I saw this thread I had pulled up a last year comparison. Health insurance +54%, telephone bill tax +37.8%, utility tax +20%, legal +15.6% liability insurance +30%, payroll +24%,

Sales were up +27% but the bottom line was down -2.8%. Each year I have more and more laws to comply with, more permits, and licenses (taxes in disguise) More and more corruption in contracting to deal with.

Business is looked at as some fat cow that can be constantly milked. If the people want more jobs we have to be unburdened. The taxes and regulation are taking growth assets and too much time from small business.

Sam in post 130 makes mention of house values going down. I sure wish mine would. I got hit for 30% more taxes this year because of overinflated property values. Next he sees auto stock and a flood of turned in cars. Good, I can get a good price on some Co vehicles.

Oh, and our local Govts won't have the money to fix the streets. Now he really hit on something that I can't understand. All large organizations are improving efficiency and downsizing. Why do we put up with growth in Govt? Why do we not expect a downsizing as a result of the millions of our dollars they spend on Hi tech systems for improved operation? It's time we starve the beast.

And Sam mentions SS going down the tubes, sooner the better,
If I could only put that 8% of payroll I pay into some investment that would really pay my people I would feel much better. Of course if I outsource I don't have to pay the 8% , not to mention the work comp, medical, employment tax, (state & fed) don't need my lawyer to protect me from law suits, could cut my rent and utilities in half.

Got to run and make some money, next tax deposit is only 7 days away.

I sympathize with you. I've had my own business too. I've also been downsized and forced to take a big cut in pay. Now I'm making 50% more than when I was d/s and in a much better job.

Your argument that business is seen as a milk cow is valid in many cases. One of my points has been that invoking protective tarriffs to protect wages against "unfair competition" is essentially a democrat argument very similar to "living wages" and "comparative worth". Conservatives should be vary wary of arguing on liberal grounds.

Good luck on those tax payments. I've got to go do some despoiling of the environment with my chainsaw.