3 ms·

I run a very small business metal fabrication facility in one of the most regulated and socialist of cities in the US, San Francisco. We deal with hazardous ch

I run a very small business metal fabrication facility in one of the most regulated and socialist of cities in the US, San Francisco. We deal with hazardous chemicals, highly flammable gases and markedly unsafe working conditions. Me and the rest of the people like me get an inspection once a year from the fire department to make sure minimum standards are kept (to ensure the safety of firefighters if they ever enter). tanks are tied up. flammables are kept in closed cabinets. We pay the city around $100 a year in fees tied to volume of hazardous materials. Otherwise they leave us completely alone. We have to keep track of whether sales are retail or come with a resellers cert from the state. When we have extra work, I bring in guys under the table. If I had real employees I would have to have additional insurance, and pay the city mandated minimum wage - which is a lot less than market value for a semi-skilled fabricator. Its completely* anecdotal, but this boogeyman of massive regulatory burden doesn't seem to be universal. From my tiny little patch I'm free to fail or succeed without any state interference.

convolvatron 10y ago
EDIT: if i pay someone more than $600, i have to file a 1099. sorry - all of this seems quite irrelevant, but personally i'm tired of having people claim that the small businessman is being repressed by excessive regulation and government tyranny. The small businessman is being repressed by the state of the market and the large businessman.
- tchock23 10y ago
  Somewhat related, but in my experience advising hundreds of small businesses over the past few years the worst (performing) are the ones that blame excessive regulation and government tyranny as a reason for their lack of progress. It's rarely/never that from the independent perspective of the advisor to the company... Not to turn this into a political discussion, but these same small business owners share a similar political leaning and are mostly parroting the canned narrative they hear on their respective talk channels...

convolvatron 10y ago

EDIT: if i pay someone more than $600, i have to file a 1099. sorry - all of this seems quite irrelevant, but personally i'm tired of having people claim that the small businessman is being repressed by excessive regulation and government tyranny. The small businessman is being repressed by the state of the market and the large businessman.

tchock23 10y ago
Somewhat related, but in my experience advising hundreds of small businesses over the past few years the worst (performing) are the ones that blame excessive regulation and government tyranny as a reason for their lack of progress. It's rarely/never that from the independent perspective of the advisor to the company... Not to turn this into a political discussion, but these same small business owners share a similar political leaning and are mostly parroting the canned narrative they hear on their respective talk channels...