Mr. President: When will ’somebody else’ build my business?
There was a lot of buzz over the weekend, stretching into today, about these remarks President Obama made during a campaign stop Friday in Roanoke, Va.:
There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me — because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t — look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.
Well, that’s not so controversial, is it? I’ve had some success in my career in journalism, and I am in the habit of referring to the great teachers I had (in college and before), the great upbringing I got from my parents, and some favorable timing/circumstances along the way. Certainly, there are a lot of successful people who want to “give something back” and do so — to churches, their alma maters, to civic organizations …
Wait, what’s that? Obama wants to steer the conversation toward government? Well, I’m not exactly surprised.
If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges.
OK, I mentioned teachers, too — although Obama does not differentiate between those in public schools or, like his own daughters’ teachers and his own college professors, those in private schools. (I’m a public-schools product myself.) And it has become routine for Obama to harp on the roads and bridges as if that’s necessarily something the federal government must or should be involved in.
But that wasn’t enough for Obama. As the saying goes, he went there:
If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.
Now, if you’re expecting me to slam Obama for that comment — and the idea that government’s role in the creation of the Internet means every online entrepreneur should get down on his knees and thank government, or gladly hand over whatever amount of her profits government thinks she owes it — you’re going to be disappointed today.
Nope, my question is: Where’s mine?
If “somebody else” is going around building these businesses for people, when do “they” make it to me? I’d love for “somebody else” come “make that happen” for me. I mean, a business doesn’t “get [started] on its own!”
So … when should I expect “somebody” to call and make the appointment for handing off this new business, Mr. President?
– By Kyle Wingfield
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383 comments Add your comment
Mandingo
July 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
@ Tiberius
Are you Kyle’s illegitimate son ? Thanks for the response to my question but I will wait for your Daddy to answer.
Thomas Heyward Jr.
July 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
If it wasn’t for Gubmint……………….then every small business in America would have done been nuked by crazy Iranians……………or every youth in America would be drug-crazed Zombies fueled by mexican or Columbian Narco-terrists……….or possibly there would be Mooooooslim,/Sharia Law and everybody would be having a head-chopping free-for-all.
.
Itn’t that how the rhetoric goes?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
You folks want the trade and commerce without all the stuff that goes in to making that even possible.
Amazing that people will thank an invisible being (with zero proof whatsoever that he/she/it exists) for anything and everything and yet can’t fathom the thought that they wouldn’t own a business if it weren’t for the laws in this land, the courts, and the security that goes into protecting those laws.
They can’t comprehend that without the railway system, the road system, the mail system, or the Internet system, they wouldn’t be able to sell their creations beyond a radius of several hundred miles.
Without a road or rail system, they would have to hire the people close to them who could actually physically get to work. And how much choice on quality of employee would they have to choose from?
Without the public school system you wouldn’t have masses of somewhat intelligent people to sell your goods to. The more education one has usually the greater their purchasing means.
Without a system of food protections and inspectors you would have a sickly population who probably wouldn’t live long enough to get to an age where they could afford to buy any of your goods.
A society is made up of alot of people pitching in to help create a network and system that allows for trade and commerce in a safe environment with protections and such. You conservatives just want the system to exist in a vacuum (poof, it’s magic…which isn’t a stretch from believing in fairy tales and made up stuff in books from ancient times.). You folks want the trade and commerce without all the stuff that goes in to making that possible.
zebra
July 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
I for one really feel sorry for all these poor, overtaxed small business people. Pretty soon, you won’t even be able to write of your country club membership as an expense or say your brand new Mercedes is a company car and then where will we be, huh?
Do these burdens have no end?
a dad
July 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
Obama believes that because that’s how HE got where he is today. I, repeat that, I, studied all hours of the day and night, worked several jobs to put food on the table, and sacrificed vacation time, etc. in my efforts to get ahead. No one helped me Mr. POTUS, no one.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 16th, 2012
2:21 pm
And no, I’m not implying that Obozo supporters aren’t real Americans. I’m flat out saying it.
Your not a real American. If you hate America so much why dont you just leave? Delta is ready when you are.
What are you gonna do when Obama is reelected ? Are all those people not “real” Americans either ?
Sounds like you are the one who isn’t very American.
md
July 16th, 2012
2:22 pm
“Very very few. I dont know anybody who ‘Chooses” to be poor”
1/3 currently are choosing to drop out of the assistance program called education………
This is a choice, and usually leads to the harder road in life…….and some never recover. Did they not make the choice that put them on that road??
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 16th, 2012
2:24 pm
No one helped me Mr. POTUS, no one.
LOL. Thats priceless.
This is typical obnoxious Republican thinking. Its self centered BS of course..
md
July 16th, 2012
2:25 pm
“Sounds like Obama . He just paid off his students loans recently too.”
Highly debatable considering the man still refuses to allow anyone to see his college docs……wonder how much grant money he received……and why he’s hiding info……the guy is a world class hypocrite.
Just saying..
July 16th, 2012
2:25 pm
How Huckabee said it:
“…the people born on third base and who think they just hit a triple. …”
No Artifical Flavors
July 16th, 2012
2:25 pm
I like teachers, roads, and bridges. What i don’t like are massive, bloated bureaucracies that suck away hard-earned dollars from the very end product or service being delivered such as our teachers, roads, and bridges.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
July 16th, 2012
2:25 pm
How many of the folks who “helped along the way” didn’t get paid to do so? Did the teachers get paid? Did the road builders get paid (with my gas taxes)? Did the police officer get paid?
Cry me a river, Obozotards.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 16th, 2012
2:26 pm
“Curious: Where does America rank, today, in your eyes?”
Mediocre at best, Just sayin’. Our drive to achieve, succeed and lead has been hammered out of us through decades of government education mismanagement.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 16th, 2012
2:26 pm
Did Thomas Heyward really just whine about government checking your cooler and then in his very next comment praise the government for protecting all of us?
Is it a requirement of a dummycrat to be ate up?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 16th, 2012
2:26 pm
Hey, who was in charge at Bain from 1999 to 2002?
I was married to my wife during those years and spent a few work weeks away from home. Does that mean I don’t have to claim any children born during that time period?
@@
July 16th, 2012
2:27 pm
1/3 currently are choosing to drop out of the assistance program called education………
Then there’s that unwed mother thingy. That pretty much guarantees poverty for the mother AND her children.
dc
July 16th, 2012
2:27 pm
Cant you just see a remake of the Saturday Night Live “More cowbells” skit….this time, it would be our idiot in chief saying “I’ve got a fever, and I need MORE GOVERNMENT”!
1961_Xer
July 16th, 2012
2:27 pm
Very very few. I dont know anybody who ‘Chooses” to be poor
Sure you do. Almost ALL of the poor have chosen to be that way. Most don’t understand where or when they chose, but they did. They chose not to do their homework. They chose to play football or basketball rather than study chemistry. They chose to get a degree in xxx Studies (xxx= women, gay, lesbian, generational, black) instead of a degree in science or engineering. They chose to spend that $500 on an iphone rather than put it in the bank. They chose to do that methamphetamine rather than run the other way.
Life is a thousand choices, and people are intricately linked to those choices that they make. When I was in grade/high school, I chose to take the hardest courses and put in the work to ace them. Anyone in my school could choose the same path. Most didn’t. Out of school, I chose to put money in a 401k/IRA. Most do not. I chose to not have kids until I was married and had money in the bank… most do not.
People do not consciously choose to be poor. Nonetheless, they do consciously make choices that leave them poor.
Just saying..
July 16th, 2012
2:28 pm
md
July 16th, 2012-2:25 pm:
“….the guy is a world class hypocrite.”
And President.
And you’re not.
HAD to be a conspiracy.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 16th, 2012
2:28 pm
Did the road builders get paid (with my gas taxes)? Did the police officer get paid?
Yeah, that’s what we’re saying – they got paid with tax dollars. But all you cons can do is whine and moan about having to pay for that kind of stuff.
Whine day in and day out. You can’t swing a dead cat in GA without hitting a Conservative whining about some tax.
md
July 16th, 2012
2:29 pm
“…the people born on third base and who think they just hit a triple. …””
Which would include the Paris Hiltons of the world……..but by golly, Conrad busted his butt so she could be a spoiled brat.
So go out and start your mega-empire and spoil your own offspring………
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 16th, 2012
2:31 pm
1/3 currently are choosing to drop out of the assistance program called education………
This is a choice, and usually leads to the harder road in life…….and some never recover. Did they not make the choice that put them on that road??
Most didnt. They might have other life issues effecting them. The poor deal with a whole load of crap that us middle class and upper class never have to deal with.
I work at a small tech school with about a thousand kids. Most of them very poor. But they are all here trying to make a better life for themselves.
Sometimes they have to drop out. Usually its a family issue. Baby etc.
But they just dont walk out the door and say. Well I choose to be poor. Obama and the government will take care of me. It doesn’t work that way.
Although in the delusional republican mind this is exactly how it happens.
Im saying BS.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 16th, 2012
2:31 pm
“…the people born on third base and who think they just hit a triple. …”
That is classic!
DawgDad
July 16th, 2012
2:32 pm
“The GI Bill . . . Boy that never created any opportunities for anyone.”
For your information, GI Bill benefits were EARNED by the people who received them. Personally, I signed a contract with the USG. Part of my compensation for services rendered. I have deep respect for the people who due to misfortune earned their benefits the hard way.
And, once out of the service, I leveraged my GI Bill benefits to the hilt. Helped finance my first house at a very attractive 15% interest rate (courtesy of fmr. Pres. Carter) and helped keep me afloat as I worked my way through graduate school.
md
July 16th, 2012
2:32 pm
“Then there’s that unwed mother thingy. That pretty much guarantees poverty for the mother AND her children.”
One must remember @@, to many on these boards, those choices are somebody else’s fault…….
Just saying..
July 16th, 2012
2:33 pm
Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 16th, 2012-2:26 pm
“Curious: Where does America rank, today, in your eyes?”
Mediocre at best, Just sayin’. Our drive to achieve, succeed and lead has been hammered out of us through decades of government education mismanagement.
So today you have a better understanding of why other countries don’t necessarily want to be just like us?
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 16th, 2012
2:34 pm
But all you cons can do is whine and moan about having to pay for that kind of stuff.
They are a bunch of deadbeats. They want healthcare but they sure dont want to pay for it.
They want roads and bridges and police. But nope dont touch my income.
Im a earner. Im a small business owner. I worked sooooo much harder than everyone else.
Make everybody else pay but me. Waaahhhhh.
Makes me want to vomit.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 16th, 2012
2:34 pm
“I was married to my wife during those years and spent a few work weeks away from home. Does that mean I don’t have to claim any children born during that time period?”
No, Finn, just those CONCEIVED during those times you were gone.
md
July 16th, 2012
2:35 pm
“Most didnt.”
We choose everything we do…….everything.
“Sometimes they have to drop out. Usually its a family issue. Baby etc.”
And that baby wasn’t a choice? They know where they come from right?
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
July 16th, 2012
2:37 pm
Conservatives don’t believe in local government taxing us to provide police and roads? Link please.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 16th, 2012
2:38 pm
“But they just dont walk out the door and say. Well I choose to be poor. Obama and the government will take care of me. It doesn’t work that way.”
Yeah, it does work that way, Cheesy Grits. Because if they didn’t already know they had a ready safety net from Mama Government to take care of them, they’d work all that much harder to stay in school despite all their personal and family problems.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 16th, 2012
2:38 pm
One must remember @@, to many on these boards, those choices are somebody else’s fault…….
Nobody said that.
Some people do have it easier however.
For example a rich girl gets pregnant at 16. Well Daddy can arrange a real quickie abortion and keep it all hush hush. Ive seen it happen
The poor girl wont get that. She will have the baby and maybe that keeps her from reaching her full potential.
There are a million other circumstances just like this.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 16th, 2012
2:40 pm
“So today you have a better understanding of why other countries don’t necessarily want to be just like us?”
No, I have a better understanding of why many people and countries feel much better about themselves when they drag others down, rather than try to lift themselves up.
Fail, Just sayin’. As usual.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 16th, 2012
2:40 pm
Yeah, it does work that way, Cheesy Grits. Because if they didn’t already know they had a ready safety net from Mama Government to take care of them, they’d work all that much harder to stay in school despite all their personal and family problems.
Actually it doesn’t. But I know you are set in your ways and there is no changing your mind.
I work at the school and see these kids. They come here because they are trying desperately to provide a better future for themselves and their children. They dont want any handouts. They just want a chance.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 16th, 2012
2:43 pm
For your information, GI Bill benefits were EARNED by the people who received them. Personally, I signed a contract with the USG. Part of my compensation for services rendered. I have deep respect for the people who due to misfortune earned their benefits the hard way.
And, once out of the service, I leveraged my GI Bill benefits to the hilt. Helped finance my first house at a very attractive 15% interest rate (courtesy of fmr. Pres. Carter) and helped keep me afloat as I worked my way through graduate school.
Absolutely you earned them. With your military service.
Another Government program success story. Thanks for sharing.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 16th, 2012
2:43 pm
Well, we really can’t expect much from Conservatives – people who bow to the likes of Grover Norquist and sign his pledge (like the 3rd grade mentality they can comprehend.)
yuzeyurbrane
July 16th, 2012
2:43 pm
Obama was just making the common sense point that government has often paid an important role in advancing the private sector. True, true, true. The roads to your business, the police and fire protection, the little tax bump you get from capital gains treatment. Why do conservatives have such a problem conceding the obvious?
DawgDad
July 16th, 2012
2:44 pm
Finn McCool @2:19 pm: To say you don’t understand what conservatives are saying is to point out the obvious. None of the things sponsored by Government happen BECAUSE of GOVERNMENT, they happen because of the will and innovation and aspirations of a free PEOPLE and the financial support of the taxpayers (leveraged or direct). I know you want it to be otherwise, that you somehow believe Government is inherently good and benevolent. Please read your history books, and look around the world.
Just saying..
July 16th, 2012
2:44 pm
Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 16th, 2012-2:40 pm: “So today you have a better understanding of why other countries don’t necessarily want to be just like us?”
No, I have a better understanding of why many people and countries feel much better about themselves when they drag others down, rather than try to lift themselves up.
Actually, Tib, it’s you who described America as “mediocre”.
DawgDad
July 16th, 2012
2:46 pm
yuzeyurbrane: Don’t be so insulting. That is NOT the point Obama was making.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 16th, 2012
2:46 pm
“I work at the school and see these kids. They come here because they are trying desperately to provide a better future for themselves and their children. They dont want any handouts.”
First of all, why am I not surprised you’re in education. You’re the problem here, Cheesy Grits, not the solution.
Second, if these kids are so damned desperate to provide a better living for themselves, they’d stay in school no matter what hit them.
That’s what winners do.
No matter what the odds are against them.
Road Scholar
July 16th, 2012
2:49 pm
dad: Your parents and grandparents and uncles and aunts didn’t help? No teachers? No mentors? Preachers? Friends? Class mates?
Were you raised by a herd of elephants?
Kyle: Did you prepare a business plan? Get input from a professional? Studied data and processes (economics, law, etc.) Starting/building a business is hard work. You earn your breaks and some may come as “gifts”. You don’t get many “days off”. But as God said to a lottery player who had prayed for a long time and then complained that after years, he had no winnings, ” Meet me half way….buy a ticket!”
Just saying..
July 16th, 2012
2:51 pm
DawgDad
July 16th, 2012-2:44 pm: “…that you somehow believe Government is inherently good and benevolent. Please read your history books, and look around the world.”
Gubmint is the problem.
But nobody moves to Somalia.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 16th, 2012
2:53 pm
DawgDad, that is not what I’m saying. What i am saying is that people created those government entities to provide those services which go to making trade and commerce possible.
Never in history has government existed for governments sake. Never.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
July 16th, 2012
2:55 pm
“You didn’t build that”
Should make a great campaign commercial.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
Just sayin’, in case you missed it, liberals and liberal thought and teachings have been dragging us down to their levels for over 80 years.
But I’m not surprised that you missed that point.
Or any other.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
you somehow believe Government is inherently good and benevolent.
This is really unbelieveble.
Government is a tool, government isn’t a living breathing thing.
This is like the citizen united fight – in reverse. You’re ok with a company (a tool) having inalienable rights but not a government (a tool.)
This is like people who want to fight terrorism. Terrorism isn’t a living breathing entity. It’s a tool!
SwamiDave
July 16th, 2012
2:57 pm
I demand…
“I dont know anybody who ‘Chooses” to be poor”.
Granted, but you and I know plenty who *strong* make choices that lead to or perpetuate poverty!
- Such as cutting class, hanging out with friends, and generally goofing off instead of attending school or visiting libraries that are provided for them
- Spending all income instead of budgeting and investing a portion that can compound
- Spending discretionary income on cars, TVs, and cell phones that could go toward development of their skills or building value through ownership
- Deciding to exchange their time for more stable wages & benefits instead of developing their own income streams and hiring others
- Taking responsibility for your current position and enacting change instead of expecting politicians to redistribute that which is earned by others to them
Very few people if given the choice would chose Poverty over Wealth, but a large percentage of the “Poor” absolutely make the day-to-day choices that result in their position.
Rich people are rich because they do things that produce wealth; Poor people are poor for the same reasons.
Freedom and Opportunity work every time they are tried; They work when you do!
-SD
MiltonMan
July 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
Obozo – clueless as ever. 57 states; cutting the deficit in half; mis-spelling Israel, etc., etc.
The internet was “created” by the DoD as DARPA; allowing communications if a nuclear attack were to hit US soil. But hey his liberal minions just love stuff like this resulting in fans passing out,
East Lake Ira
July 16th, 2012
3:03 pm
It all seems to boil down to the Cons crying because they don’t want to pay any more taxes even though they pay less now than they have in any time over the last 30 years.
Grow up, pay your own way and stop complaining. You are not oppressed, you are not over taxed, you are footsoilders for the aristocracy.
Get over yourselves.