President Obama: ‘If You’ve Got a Business — You Didn’t Build That. Somebody Else Made That

Obama's got a point. Nobody lives in isolation. If you think you can build a business alone, go live someplace like Antarctica and see if you can do it "alone." We are part of a society, and in building a successful business you depend on lots of people around you - workers, customers, craftsmen, teachers who educate the workers, and government that builds and maintains the infrastructure to transport your goods. Most so-called private businesses are successful because they are raking in billions of dollars in government subsidies. Why does the government continue to provide subsidies to profitable enterprises like oil, coal, nuclear, etc? Most likely because without corporate welfare, they wouldn't be able to make it. So, yeah, I do agree nobody goes it alone. For all those successful businesses out there, especially the ones sucking on the government teat, get off the welfare and prove that you can be successful. Pay your taxes like everyone else to support the infrastructure that makes your business possible. Own up to the truth. No man is an island.

reply to post by MidnightTide


Easy Obama-bashing from weak minded individuals.

Most people (most sane and reasonable people anyway) understand that he is saying employees build a business and make it successful, workers built the road that your trucks drive on, people work 12 hour shifts providing security for your building...

So what's the deal, is it only "lefties", "commies" and "socialists" who understand what he's saying?

I don't like Obama very much, I think he's been one of the most disappointing presidents I've seen in my lifetime, but these kind of nonsense threads picking apart quotes with a right-wing pitchfork do more to embarrass the Republican cheer leaders than it does to embarrass Obama.

I don't agree with the guy on almost anything he does, but he's right. The 1% only got to where they are on the back of Americans. You can have a great idea all you like, but you get nowhere on your own.

Now Obama has an ad out that tries real hard to cover this up

Which Barack Obama Do You Believe? The one who proclaimed that if you own a business "you didn't build that." or the one now trying to tell you that what you heard is not really what you heard?

Which Barack Obama Do You Believe?

The "damage Control" is doing more "damage" than the original gaffe !!

Hate to burst the bubble, but listening to the speech again, I can see what he was referring to.

Here is what I heard, and how I interpret it:

"Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, that - you didn't build that. I'm always struck by people who think: Wow it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something, there are whole bunch of hard working people out there......"

I believe when he says "you didn't build that" - he was referring to the roads and bridges. Not that some businesses don't build roads and bridges. Just that public tax money goes to ensure that public infrastructure such as roads and bridges exist so that business can be run.

Originally posted by xuenchen
Now Obama has an ad out that tries real hard to cover this up

Which Barack Obama Do You Believe? The one who proclaimed that if you own a business "you didn't build that." or the one now trying to tell you that what you heard is not really what you heard?

Which Barack Obama Do You Believe?

The "damage Control" is doing more "damage" than the original gaffe !!

Yes, Obama is in deep trouble.

First rule of politics: Never complain : Never explain

Obama is out there right now trying in vain to - explain - what he - really ??? - meant

when he said -- If you've got a business, you didn't build that ! --

reply to post by tamusan


Unfortunately this is very real...

reply to post by sensibleSenseless

"Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, that - you didn't build that.

I would like your interpretation except that the "that" is closer, in the sentence, to "business" than "roads and bridges." Also "roads and bridges" is plural, and "that" is singular. So is "business." I would have thought that Obama, the orator, could construct a sentence that conveyed his thought.

Originally posted by charles1952
reply to post by sensibleSenseless

 

"Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, that - you didn't build that.

I would like your interpretation except that the "that" is closer, in the sentence, to "business" than "roads and bridges." Also "roads and bridges" is plural, and "that" is singular. So is "business." I would have thought that Obama, the orator, could construct a sentence that conveyed his thought.

Don't slice and dice. Listen to the entire speech.

Obama started out mocking capitalists who are smarter and work harder.

Then he eventually got around to attacking them directly.

"You didn't build that !"

When you listen to the entire speech, it only makes it worse.

reply to post by sensibleSenseless
you almost had me going here ...

I believe when he says "you didn't build that" - he was referring to the roads and bridges. Not that some businesses don't build roads and bridges. Just that public tax money goes to ensure that public infrastructure such as roads and bridges exist so that business can be run.

but then the reality sunk in and loooooong ago, before there was "government", there were roads and businesses and trading and even skirmishes and battles ... so, who "built" it then ??

as far as roads and bridges go ... IF the government WANTS to be responsible for them, they should do something about them.
afterall, soooo many are currently failing or getting failing grades ... but, since it's POTUS commentary, chances are that will be OUR fault too.

point is, government didn't build them, didn't finance them nor did they maintain them (the people have) ... IF the government did any of it, then we the people should be suing the government for their bad deeds, yet again.

the desalinization plants are a prime example.
the people said no ... government pushed and paid private industry to do it anyway.
the plants failed ... the people raised cain
government alleviated the "finanacial responsiblity" of the private contractors and then demanded the project continue onward ... and forces we the people to pay ... when does no mean NO ??

Originally posted by Honor93
reply to post by sensibleSenseless

 

you almost had me going here ...

I believe when he says "you didn't build that" - he was referring to the roads and bridges. Not that some businesses don't build roads and bridges. Just that public tax money goes to ensure that public infrastructure such as roads and bridges exist so that business can be run.

but then the reality sunk in and loooooong ago, before there was "government", there were roads and businesses and trading and even skirmishes and battles ... so, who "built" it then ??

as far as roads and bridges go ... IF the government WANTS to be responsible for them, they should do something about them.
afterall, soooo many are currently failing or getting failing grades ... but, since it's POTUS commentary, chances are that will be OUR fault too.

point is, government didn't build them, didn't finance them nor did they maintain them (the people have) ... IF the government did any of it, then we the people should be suing the government for their bad deeds, yet again.

the desalinization plants are a prime example.
the people said no ... government pushed and paid private industry to do it anyway.
the plants failed ... the people raised cain
government alleviated the "finanacial responsiblity" of the private contractors and then demanded the project continue onward ... and forces we the people to pay ... when does no mean NO ??

Elisabeth Warren and Obama have it upside down and backwards.

Those are our roads. The US taxpayers paid for them.

The government is NOT our savior. The government burdens small businesses with

unending regulations and throws barriers in our way.

Some people taught me a few chords on guitar, I taught myself leads and how to sing partially, and I made an LLC, does his statement apply to me as well? geez, politics are SO fun...

This is indicative of the mentality of the new left. They want the middle class's cash because the rich aren't obiously giving it up.
Good thing i'm poor

Originally posted by boeserwolf
Obama's got a point. Nobody lives in isolation. If you think you can build a business alone, go live someplace like Antarctica and see if you can do it "alone." We are part of a society, and in building a successful business you depend on lots of people around you - workers, customers, craftsmen, teachers who educate the workers, and government that builds and maintains the infrastructure to transport your goods. Most so-called private businesses are successful because they are raking in billions of dollars in government subsidies. Why does the government continue to provide subsidies to profitable enterprises like oil, coal, nuclear, etc? Most likely because without corporate welfare, they wouldn't be able to make it. So, yeah, I do agree nobody goes it alone. For all those successful businesses out there, especially the ones sucking on the government teat, get off the welfare and prove that you can be successful. Pay your taxes like everyone else to support the infrastructure that makes your business possible. Own up to the truth. No man is an island.

The point is, that infrastructure is paid for and the gov't is nothing more than a middleman that syphons off cash for their own purposes.
So much wealth has been lost in the last 20 yrs, it's disgusting

Obama's "logic" reminds me of the same arguments made by many "Christians" Everything you have accomplished is because of god. Sounds like he is trying to turn the government into a god.

OK then I agree with him. If we succeed it is because of the government. So now that everything seems to be falling apart and so many businesses have failed he should take the blame for that as well. It is the government's fault there is so much unemployment. It is the governments fault everyone is in foreclosure. OK thanks for that so what is the government going to do to fix this.

Everything I have achieved is because of the government... Ok then everything I have lost is also because of the government. I don't mean to insult anyone but there are many more losers in this country than winners. So it is the government's fault that less than one percent of the people control over 99% of the wealth in the country...

Hmmmm the more I think about it the more I agree with what he said.

Originally posted by crazyguy2012
Obama's "logic" reminds me of the same arguments made by many "Christians" Everything you have accomplished is because of god. Sounds like he is trying to turn the government into a god.

OK then I agree with him. If we succeed it is because of the government. So now that everything seems to be falling apart and so many businesses have failed he should take the blame for that as well. It is the government's fault there is so much unemployment. It is the governments fault everyone is in foreclosure. OK thanks for that so what is the government going to do to fix this.

Everything I have achieved is because of the government... Ok then everything I have lost is also because of the government. I don't mean to insult anyone but there are many more losers in this country than winners. So it is the government's fault that less than one percent of the people control over 99% of the wealth in the country...

Hmmmm the more I think about it the more I agree with what he said.

Why do you hate us if we're not hurting you? Atleast we don't kill you for not converting like some other religions.
There is a huge misconception of religions in general these days

reply to post by HamrHeed


so you are saying no Christians have every killed others who believe differently? History tells otherwise.

Originally posted by crazyguy2012
reply to post by HamrHeed

 

so you are saying no Christians have every killed others who believe differently? History tells otherwise.

OFF TOPIC...( just a tiny "smidgeon")


As the man speaks to his "minions" in glittering generalities and communicates on many levels:

I believe (hear) he is looking for ways the successful should be obligated to pay more in"taxes" for his admin to redistribute.
and chip away at private property rights.Which dovetails perfectly with his obviously collectivist mindset.
As we are not "collectivists"by design. it's no wonder there's outrage.

I.e. You're on some form of "govt. assistance"; you didn't buy that car you're driving; "WE" did. We can direct the way it is used.even how powerful or not it is.:

As usual Obama try's to take credit for every thing in your life.
Here is a man who's got an answer for Obama.

Gaster, a Vietnam veteran, told FoxNews.com he built his now 28-year-old business from the ground up.

Text"I started on my own," Gaster said. "The government wasn't there. We work long, hard hours and what he said is an insult to any businessman."

"When I heard what he said, I said 'I'm going to give him an answer in Chicago language--something he's used to,'" he told FoxNews.com. "If I would have said 'Dear Mr. President...' there wouldn't have been as strong of a response."

www.foxnews.com...

reply to post by guohua


- Obama is doomed. -

He attacked successful businesses. -- You didn't build that ! --

Now they are attacking Chick Fila !

Those long lines of people wrapped around the Chick Fila will be wrapped around the

voting booths!

I think the GOP /Tea Party just picked up 3 more seats in the U.S. Senate.

Originally posted by charles1952
reply to post by sensibleSenseless

 

"Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, that - you didn't build that.

I would like your interpretation except that the "that" is closer, in the sentence, to "business" than "roads and bridges." Also "roads and bridges" is plural, and "that" is singular. So is "business." I would have thought that Obama, the orator, could construct a sentence that conveyed his thought.

Hi Charles,

I unfortunately only recently discovered that you can use your messages to see who responded to your posts... hence the late reply. Otherwise, I was getting lost in the sea of responses, looking for replies.

The word "that" can apply to plural nouns as well. Take the following sentence:
There are thirty hot air balloons that are hovering above Chicago.

"That" in the sentence above is referring to the words "hot air balloons", which is plural. So, Obama is correct in this regard.

However, you brought up an interesting point. In oration, if you are making an extempore speech, it is hard to co-ordinate the organization of thoughts and the correct words/order of words to explain it. This is why people like Obama, prefer to have teleprompters to make their speeches - simply because making a speech is easier done if you take your time to compose the content and its wording.

Perhaps maturity is the issue for some... But, many understand that the best of extempore speech makers have trouble constructing sentences when it comes to accurately representing what one means on extremely short notice.

One way of judging Obama's intentions is to look at his past actions and words. I do understand that the US is going through tough times - and it is my personal belief that tougher times yet are in store. But, I believe that criticism can even border on unfair, even if someone in leadership has good intentions. IMHO: The US was set on a path leading to its current trouble about a generation ago, and that it is pretty amazing that someone such as Obama should stand up to bat, in spite of the odds against success. There is a possibility that his ignorance could be the reason for it... but somehow I have my doubts.