As a celebrity chef, cookbook author, and TV personality, Emeril Lagasse is one of the most well known chefs in the country, and with a net worth of about $50 million and a food empire that brings in an estimated $150 million, he’s one of the wealthiest, too. So it was surprising to hear him say at a recent event that he has “nowhere to go, really—other than broke.”
The reason? Predictably, Big Government.
More @ Townhall
Emeril was speaking specifically about restaurant operations. But his statements can apply across the entire American economy. Every small business is under attack by large corporations aided by corrupt politicians writing laws and regulations designed to eliminate the small business. The local business has been replaced by Wal-Mart, Home Depot and the rest of big corporations. There was a time in America when the government actually promoted small businesses.
ReplyDeleteIf you are old enough you remember when Sears sold only the Kenmore brand appliances. There was a reason they did not sell name brand appliances. Products were subject to “Fair Trade” laws. These laws were designed to stop the huge corporations from ruining local business by undercutting them. Sears was not allowed to buy a name brand stove and sell it cheaper than a local dealer. However, since Kenmore was their brand they could sell it at any price the wanted. Look at Wal-Mart today they come to a town undercut all the local businesses until they close then the prices go back up to normal.
I remember when the local butcher was legislated out of business here in Iowa. IBP bought politicians in the name of health and safety passed new regulations on the meat packing industry. Now you have to know that IBP actually wrote the new health and safety regulations passed into law. Here is a surprise the two IBP factories were in 100% compliance. While every independent butcher and locker plant seemed to fail. In order to remain in business the independent butchers were faced with thousands of dollars of upgrades just to stay in business.
Emeril was addressing a much larger problem that is destroying America.
Badger
Emeril was addressing a much larger problem that is destroying America.
DeleteOn point.
Exactly why the small farmer is going extinct. Cant keep up w/ regulatory compliance.
DeleteAnd as it shifts to $per hour worker, quality suffers.
I asked my Cousin Barnes ( & yes, he was named after a barn, whose father, Uncle Hugh worked in the fields until he was well in his 80's) years back what it would take to start from scratch and farm. He said you would have to be given all the land and equipment by your relatives to even have a chance at making a living.
DeleteAnd even then with estate taxes I dont think most can do it.
DeleteEven the Amish are up to their eyeballs in debt.
Actually, with the tax code the way it...being a small business owner of any kind unless you have huge debt load you are paying it income taxes. Took us @12 yrs to pay off our debt from dairy farming.
Most farmers i know need off farm income in order to eat regularly and keep up with real estate taxes.
That's a shame. My post above was concerning dairy farms around Manquin, Virginia. My grandfather came up from NC before WWI and during that time furnished practically all the milk to Richmond. He acquired thousand's of acres and today, though some are still in dairy, my cousin opened one as a golf course and another cousin as an orchard. Just no money these days, as you say. My father had beef cattle farms around Marshall and I don't know if these type fair any better these days.
DeleteJust saw this at Ol' Remus.
DeleteBig picture grain - 1986 saw the phase out of the US land set aside—you were paid to NOT farm. In 2001 the world carry over of grain stocks was 107 days. By 2007 it had dropped to 74 days. By those two fun filled facts, we can conclude that we have lost both surplus land and surplus stocks of grain.
James Dakin at bisonprepper.blogspot.com
we are still putting 40% of our corn crop into our gas tanks, due to the retarded global worming wealth distribution scheme.
DeleteAsinine.
===
I hate these people
You've got company and thanks for the link.