Business is Easier to do in America: Keeping the Bureaucrats at Bay

Carol straps her toddler into the car seat and tells her seven-year-old son to put on his seat belt and off she goes to begin her business for the day. First stop is back to school clothing for her son’s first day at school. Then to the bank for her husband’s business deposits, grocery shipping and lunch with a friend before returning home for the toddler’s nap. The completion of these tasks is predicated on an effective pace of doing business. This expectation of quick service is a reality in America but it is not in most of the world. Americans are a busy goal oriented people because we can get things done.

America makes it relatively easy to do business. It only takes a little time visiting other countries to understand why we are fortunate to be Americans. Everything is much easier to accomplish in the states. But even here it is becoming more difficult. Government regulation is becoming a nuisance creeping into many aspects of our lives. Although it is minimal in comparison to the structural obstacles faced by most other nations, we still must remain vigilant or we will corrode our entrepreneurial spirit.

An acquaintance of mine in Sicily has waited several years to obtain a license to do tourist excursions. So far he has not been able to enter the profession even though he has the knowledge, skill and resources to compete in the field. He is locked out on the whim of local bureaucrats. He told me he has to wait for bureaucrats to decide when and how many additional licenses to allow. The people who are chosen for the license are often chosen by who they know not what they know.

Our local, state and federal governments have not been able to directly limit occupational licenses to stifle business and encourage graft. As long as we complete the requirements somewhat based on merit and pay the fee we can enter a particular career.

In many other societies government bureaucrats have the arbitrary power to determine what is good for the state. Micromanaging the economy has historically been shown to be inefficient leading to a stagnant society.

America has enjoyed economic freedom creating a dynamic nation. We get quick, efficient service almost anytime of the day. There is no two- hour siesta or formal and informal holiday of just closing the shop without notice for whatever reasons. Banking is a 5-15 minute process not half a day. Shopping for almost anything is at the consumer’s convenience not the business owner’s. Small business owners understand that meeting the customer’s needs leads to a successful enterprise.

We still enjoy driving or flying from place to place with minimal delay. Renting a car is a quick process with a clear and established means of determining the price. There is no need to take time to scrutinize the charges to keep the price that was agreed upon.

Our infrastructure is developed for making business easier and more efficient rather than appeasing local special interests. There are plenty of parking areas available for customers to park and do business. Our streets are sufficiently wide, clearly marked and without double parked cars. Streets usually go in both directions or if one-way do not end abruptly with a “do not enter” sign forcing the driver to make a quick decision to go right or left not knowing how to proceed in the right direction.

Anyone interested in purchasing a new or used home can find real estate sales people to assist them on every corner. Builders are ready and willing to meet a customer’s every desire and demand for a price. Loans are readily available to people with little savings or even poor credit records.

Any child who wants an education can get an excellent one if willing to pay the price. Even a person who chooses not to compete in formal learning can reach the American dream through hard work. There is no better evidence than the millions of immigrants who have achieved the American dream through their efforts.

In America we have the freedom to enter any career as long as we meet minimal requirements. The process is open to all. The decision is not up to a centralized bureau but the initiative of the person.

We as a people will lose our spirit if we do not resist the tentacles of government dictating the way we do business. Bureaucratic minions decreeing more regulation will not only sap our vitality but narrow our vision of what can be. We must not allow large multinational corporations to use their power through Washington lobbyists to rig the rules making small businessmen unable to do business.

Freedom for small businessmen to compete is the lubricant that keeps our economy humming. Business without governmental interference creates fertile ground for American ingenuity and overall optimism. This makes us especially blessed in the eyes of the world.