SmallBizResource Blog -- Economy

We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident...

Posted by Gayle Kesten Thursday, Oct 16, 2008, 02:55 PM ET

I'm not trying to be rhetorical, but how well do microbusinesses think Congress has done this year to represent their interests?

Not surprisingly, not well at all, according to an online poll taken by 602 members of the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) between July and September. A full 93% say, no, our elected officials are neither representing them nor protecting them. With that in mind, it also won't come as a surprise that 41% think Congress and the Bush administration place zero importance on small business and self-employed issues, while another 38% believe they're of slight importance.

Among the top issues microbusinesses say they expect to face in 2009:

38% Slowing economy
19% Cost of health coverage
12% Tax equity and complexity
11% Increased energy costs
05% Access to capital/ financing for business

Their concerns for their family don't differ, albeit in a reprioritized order:

26% Cost of health coverage
25% Slowing economy
15% Increased energy costs
9% Housing-related issues
05% Tax equity and complexity
05% Retirement security

These results echo findings by Fortune Small Business in its own poll of entrepreneurs, who were asked to cite the two most important issues in determining who the were going to vote for president. Top answers included:

50% Jobs/economy
34% Terrorism
27% Energy costs
19% Taxes
18% Health care

What issues are of chief concern to you? And -- I'm almost afraid to ask -- which presidential candidate do you think would truly come through for small business? (Yes, neither is an acceptable response!)

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