"You Didn't Build That" remark flattens Obama's Approval Rating among Business Owners

www.examiner.com...

I'm so proud of American business owners for not falling for Obama's lame excuse and argument regarding his comment that " didn't build that ". He blames America for hearing his comment wrong. No! American business owners heard him loud and clear! And the latest Gallup poll shows that they know he meant it.

www.examiner.com...

With all his recent attacks against business, especially with Obamacare, I am not surprised that his approval rating is dropping lower.

I wish it would continue steadily.

But I am sure this not going to last, as the real campaigning hasn't started yet. We'll ahve to wait until November to see if this has any real effect on him.

Obama is right. While business owners built their own business, they did have help from others. Business owners require a society in order to operate. Whether it be laws and military/police protecting their assets, public roads to transport goods, and even small business loans backed by the government, they had help.

Even Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, agrees.

Personal property is the effect of society; and it is as impossible for an individual to acquire personal property without the aid of society, as it is for him to make land originally.

Separate an individual from society, and give him an island or a continent to possess, and he cannot acquire personal property. He cannot be rich. So inseparably are the means connected with the end, in all cases, that where the former do not exist the latter cannot be obtained. All accumulation, therefore, of personal property, beyond what a man's own hands produce, is derived to him by living in society; and he owes on every principle of justice, of gratitude, and of civilization, a part of that accumulation back again to society from whence the whole came."

-Agrarian Justice Part Three - Thomas Paine

reply to post by ChicagOpinion


Well the "business owners" completely took his statement out of context and quite frankly are idiots. His statements before AND after that particular quote clearly elaborate on what he meant and what he actually clearly stated. Anybody who votes based on one line of dialogue taken completely out of context really is kind of a idiot.

The Republicans are basing their entire campaign on a grammatical misstep. They have absolutely nothing to use against Obama.

www.thedailyshow.com...

reply to post by SG-17


Thanks for posting that! I think more people should see that Daily show clip, as it really gives some balance back to what is going on when talking about this topic. I was taken back when Faux news said it was taken out of context, and then uses a no context clip, as the Daily show points out. But am I shocked at what Faux news has done.. Nope, its just how they operate. I just thought when it was so clear it was taken out of context they would try to show that, however Faux news is nothing but a propaganda tool. and Ducey, is a Muppet!

My husband and I are small business owners but I do feel Obama's statement was misunderstood to an extent. In the context, it does appear he was talking about infrastructure- not the individual's specific business- in the line about 'you didn't build that.'

It has been blown horribly out of proportion ever since.

The only thing I'm upset with Obama about is that his ultimate point is about paying more taxes- when I don't think he realizes just how much taxes small businesses already pay. In my husband's personal example, he pays more on payroll tax alone than he brings home. That's not even including the other taxes.

So I can agree with Obama that 'it takes a village' logic. I'm a bit tired of our individualistic culture where it's an 'every man for himself' mentality. I can definitely understand where Obama is coming from in that respect.

I do feel a bit attacked/misunderstood by him in his speech and feel he is going after the wrong people. But that doesn't mean I don't feel that some aren't latching onto it and making a mountain out of a molehill.

We need to spend less as a government- not take more from the people.

reply to post by AshleyD


If you don't make over $1 million a year then you won't be taxed more, and if you do make over $1 million a year you can hardly call yourself "small" business owners.

It takes a villiage. The only reason to deny that is so that one can stroke their ego easier.

Truth of the matter you really really didnt build that- Its your self-centered selfish ego psychosis that says ya did.


You will understand soon-
hang in there

reply to post by SG-17


We don't make $1 million a year. lol But we do pay more in taxes than what we earn which pretty much sucks.

How else can you make record profits while paying your workers minimum wage?

Most businesses are about grinding people into the ground so that they can dance on their broken backs. I know many buisness owners and the majority didnt do %&*^ other than apply for a loan from the bank then sit back and write checks.

A TRUE leader is judged upon his moral courage to speak the truth, even if many disagree with him at that time.

Truth is a reality, and serves as a warning to all that an error or concept of belief is wrong. If we refuse to correct it, we will never progress, and dire consequences will result for ALL.

Today, through the financial and national economic crisis, time and time again, we see the consequences of warnings by that few in the past, ignored by many, happening today. Bankers manipulation, property owners selfish agendas, stock broking exhuberant exeggerations of the casino stock market, wholesale lies of no tax for the rich and economic globalization which is only enslavement of 3rd world nations for profits, etc.

It truly doesn't matter if President Obama is re-elected or not. This is a democracy after all, and the nation deserves the leader they voted for.

But the truth MUST be told. He may be reviled by the greedy today, but generations later, his memory for his courage to speak the truth will live eternally, and those whom had lived in delusions and lies, and had force others to believe those lies, will be spat upon forever.

We came into this world with nothing and will leave with nothing anyway. It's what we had done during our lifetime that is more critical, for that final breathe of planet Earth's air is precious, to confront what we had done, a memory many whom passed on to the next will remember for a fleeting moment, with either joy, disillusionment or worse-regrets, as well as the living whom had lives touched by them,in good, or in bad.

reply to post by Wertdagf


Most of the business owners I personally know are extremely hard working people. In fact, I don't know any of the kind you describe although I am sure they exist. They work nights, weekends, holidays, invest their life savings, and hold the risk.

I feel it is wrong to demonize the business owner as stereotyping them all as evil greedy back breakers. I also feel it is wrong for business to treat their employees as non human drones.

HERE is a post I felt was very touching and so true. To take care of your employees is to take care of your fellow Americans and your country. I would refuse a job that purposefully scheduled me 39 hours a week just so they would prevent paying benefits. That's such a horrible thing to do.

I remember back when I worked at the airlines, right after 911, about 10,000 of us were laid off from flight attendants, pilots, gate agents, clerical, and baggage handlers were laid off... but the CEO received a $10 million bonus. It was pretty sad.

On the other hand, I feel small businesses function drastically different. It really can be more like a family. For instance, we have my husband's employees over for weekend barbecues, they invite us to their birthdays, they visited my husband when he was in the hospital for a heart attack, we have our kids play together, we all greet each other with hugs instead of handshakes, etc.

I truly feel that happy workers lead to happy business. Obviously the goal of going into business for yourself is self sufficiency and success but that doesn't mean you shouldn't care for others.

I'm a bit tired of the blind arguing in 100% defense of either. In the end, we do pay more taxes than what we actually pay ourselves when you consider sales tax, payroll tax, income tax, and all the other taxes.

Never really understood the argument 'well if you don't make over 250,000 then don't worry about it because it doesn't apply to you' mentality like an above poster mentioned. Most small business owners know you can be making a $50,000 salary and still be paying more than that in taxes. That truly is not right.

reply to post by AshleyD


I really wish we could just be taxed on our profits, it would make it a little easier on us i think. I think overall sales, minus essential expenses like operational products, utilities, rent, insurance, and payroll. Whatevers left should then be taxed like 10-15% that way we arent doing like you and I both know and paying more in taxes than we make, and what could potentially sink our businesses, especially in these trying times.

reply to post by AshleyD


Then that is your State's problem, not the Federal government.