Comments on: Small Businesses Get No Respect From Washington Say Americans

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 09 May 2007 02:23:08 +0000

It’s no real surprise to see whose on top of the list – and who will most likely remain there.

By: Mila

Mila — Fri, 04 May 2007 18:43:34 +0000

Anita, I definitely agree that there are two sides to the story. But it’s important not to think of the audience as “passive”, since we can make an active choice in what we read/watch.
You also bring up a great point about the internet — blogs, just to name one example, have revolutionized the gatekeeping process. There have been plenty of times where something spreads around the blogosphere first, and then mainstream media picks it up (which, specifically, can work great for small businesses).

By: Q at $1 Million to My Name

Q at $1 Million to My Name — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:24:13 +0000

Small business is the engine that’s pushing this country forward. Or as Homer Simpson said, “The glue that holds together the gears…”

My grandfather founded a window manufacturing company in 1949, employing thousands of people over the years. In economic terms, he touched all of their lives. Granted, he could have spent more time with his family, but his small business bolstered the financial health of so many families over the years.

By: Anita Campbell

Anita Campbell — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:27:33 +0000

Yes, I agree Mila, it is shocking that people think military veterans get so little respect from Washington.

It’s an interesting chicken-and-egg question you raise, too. Does TV media cover sensational issues because want to see it? Yes, I think that’s true with some people.

But on the other hand, if you want to hear about business stuff on TV you basically just have CNN here in the U.S. That tends to be mostly about the stock markets, rather than small business. With other channels, you may have no choice but to hear about Britney because every time you turn on the TV trying to catch real news, you have to wait until the celeb watch is out of the way to get a few crumbs of news.

Anyway, I am glad there is the Internet, which is a great alternative source of information, especially on business stuff.

By: Mila

Mila — Wed, 02 May 2007 19:34:43 +0000

The most shocking thing to me is how little respect military veterans get!
More on topic, however, I don’t know that I fully agree with Baker’s quote. The media is criticized a LOT by the general public, especially the news media… often not without reason. However, news media functions like a business — they give the customer, aka the public, what they want to see and read about. If Americans were more concerned with small business affairs (or even say, the environment) over Britney Spears’ latest rehab endeavors, I really think you would see more SMB stories emerge.
Of course the media does focus on sensationalism, but it’s because those are the topics their audience wants to hear about.