Local business will revive economy
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When we spend money with a big chain, our money leaves our community immediately. So, whenever you are able to, please shop locally. Other than our own families, our community is what is important. Locally owned businesses are the heart of the community. They reflect our values.
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Folks, there are rumors that another local manufacturing plant is preparing to pack up and leave up and leave up our community and country. And, last week I was quoted by another columnist as saying, “We must begin to produce wealth and that can only be done with the manufacturing of goods.”
Yep! I said it and I would say it again. I don’t offer this column every week to argue with my peer. This column is presented to you the reader with the intent to offer food for thought. However, one statement by one of my fellow columnists must be responded to just to clear up some things.
He says, and I am not sure whether it is a quote or his own thinking, “But manufacturing in the United States isn’t dead or even dying.” And also, later in his column he says, and I am not sure if this is a quote or not, “The amount of manufacturing output per manufacturing worker in the U.S. has tripled from $80,000 to $240,000 since 1972.”
During most of that time frame, the profits from that productivity gain were not shared with the American worker. In fact, the American worker slipped backward. Now, let’s go back to the “U.S. manufacturing not even dying statement.”
It is basketball season, so I will use that as an analogy. If the home team is scoring 15 points per quarter and the visiting team is scoring 20 points per quarter, the statement that we are not dying is not correct. This is what is happening to us in our relationship with communist China.
The prediction now is that somewhere around the year 2015, China will surpass us. And we don’t want to be fooled by the thought that China is only taking manufacturing from us that is low technology. Our high technology genius is being given to China right along with our jobs.
Now, let us move on to this week’s topic.
Somewhere in the next couple of weeks or so we will write column number 300. I say “we” because my wife critiques, types and helps proof. I am not sure of the exact date. I haven’t had time to check it out.
But, I want to thank Rory Ryan for enticing me into this awesome weekly responsibility.
Through the years, I have always written for Rory.
At times this column was being carried by four papers, all of them corporate owned.
When Rory decided to begin this adventure, it was easy for me to go with him. I am proud to say that this column is now carried by only three papers, but they are all locally owned and independently operated.
The Highland County Press, owned by the Ryan family, The Sabina Advertiser, owned by the Gaskin family, and the latest, The (West Union) Informer, owned by Troy Jolly of Adams County.
Since I am constantly asking people to shop locally, writing for only local papers suits me just fine.
I met a retired gentleman last weekend, and we had a great conversation. He reminded me that the most important things are local. I also had a call from a lady who wanted to tell me that of seven working adults in her family there was but one currently working and that one is working at minimum wage.
I mention the above because this recession seems to be going to last a while before we get back to some semblance of normalcy. If this is the case, and let’s hope it is not, we all need to work together as a community. When we spend our money locally it passes through local hands about six times.
When we spend money with a big chain, our money leaves our community immediately. So, whenever you are able to, please shop locally. Other than our own families, our community is what is important. Locally owned businesses are the heart of the community. They reflect our values.
Recently, 2,500 of the world’s movers and shakers met in Switzerland. The world’s major corporations and governments were represented. As near as I can determine, small business only had one representative and he was not a speaker during this five-day event.
In an interview, here is what he said: “Big guys are not the big sufferers. Big sufferers are the small guys who lost their jobs, who lost their food, lost their livelihood.”
Now, here are a couple of quotes from the “big guys.”
There needs to be “a return to ethics and morality.” “Business and government leaders” need to “reflect on values and social responsibility.”
In my way of thinking, “reflect” means to just think about it. It doesn’t mean to do anything.
Small local business is what is going to turn our economy around.
If you have ever thought about starting a small business, Southern State Community College – and the key word in our name is Community – offers several programs and courses that can help you. We also have people who can answer your questions and help you with a business plan.
Folks, big business is about making money. Small family business is about making a living.
Bill Horne is a professor at Southern State Community College and a columnist for The Highland County Press.
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