Tax day is a tough one for small business owners. It’s the day we’re reminded of all the tax breaks large corporations get, of the self-employment tax some of us pay for the privilege of entrepreneurship, and of the high cost of individual health insurance.
Today, we’re reminded that the American dream is no longer one of bettering yourself or starting your own business, it’s about having a cushy job where someone pays you for showing up and “takes care of you” so you don’t have to worry. Oh wait, except that large corporations are laying people off and begging for money from the government.
Tax day reminds me that we need to change the American dream. We can’t rail against “big government” while allowing mega-corporations to run our lives and ruin our economy. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, not Fortune 500 corporations. We need to change the tax system to be in favor of small businesses, not punish them. We need to encourage people to be better, to dream, and to succeed.
I’ve paid my pound of flesh, paid extra for being a business owner, and I’d like to see my government work for me in trade. I’d like to be free to dream, just like our forefathers. Wouldn’t you?