Many candidates on the national, state and local levels have made business bashing a centerpiece of their campaigns, despite today’s historic economic expansion led by business. A government that is willing to work with business is needed, not a government that discourages further economic growth with heavy tax burdens, bureaucratic red tape and over-regulation.
Beginning in April of 1991, this expansion straddled two administrations and both parties’ control of Congress. Not only is today’s prosperity fueled by remarkable advances in technology, it is the product of difficult decisions and great innovations by American industry to restructure, downsize, invest in research and development, and expand international trade. It was aided by policies to deregulate the economy, reduce taxes, expand free trade and bring monetary policy under control.
We’re not just talking about big business; small business is the economic engine of the country. America’s 25 million small businesses employ more than 50 percent of the private work force, generate more than 50 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product and are the principle source of 75 percent of new jobs in the U.S. They represent 99.7 percent of all employers and 96 percent of all U.S. exporters.
On the local level, the Chicago area created almost 440,000 new jobs between 1990 and 2000, a decade-long growth rate of 13.3 percent. That is four times the amount of jobs created by New York and Los Angeles combined. In 1999, there were more than 28,000 new business startups in Chicago, 41,000 in Cook County and more than 62,000 total in the six counties that comprise Chicagoland.
The mission of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is to make Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in America. The main way this can be achieved is by electing pro-business candidates. Local, state and national budget surpluses do not mean it is time for business and government to rest on their laurels. Business, large and small, needs to stop apologizing and encourage their employees to vote pro-business.
It is not too late to educate yourself about the candidates or contribute to a campaign. Send an e-mail or company newsletter to your family, friends and employees reminding them to vote. If you are a business owner or manager, make it easy to vote by letting your employees come in an hour late or leave an hour early to vote. Identify your polling place and the hours the polls are open. And, most important, on Nov. 7, vote.
