Minnesota small-business owners part of McCain/Gramm’s “nation of whiners”?
Friday, July 11, 2008 at 9:16 am
- 8 Comments
Sen. John McCain has been taking heat for comments made by his economic policy adviser, former Sen. Phil Gramm, who insisted American’s perception of an economic recession was "mental" and the product of a "nation of whiners." Minnesota small-business owners may chafe at those words as a recent survey conducted by U.S. Bank reveals their perceptions 74 percent of them believe the economy is in recession and 46 percent are reporting lower revenue than in 2007.
When asked to describe the current economic conditions for small businesses in Minnesota, only 3 percent said conditions were "excellent" and 18 percent said "good," while 39 percent said they were "fair" and 38 percent said "poor."
Fuel prices were singled out by 85 percent of business owners as having a negative effect, with roughly two-thirds saying the effect has been "very negative."
"Gasoline prices, food prices. The market is just terrible," one Minnesota business owner responded.
Current interest rates and the availability of credit were seen as having a positive effect, which U.S. Bank vice-chairman Rick Hartnack says is "good news for Minnesota."
"The media attention about tight credit in the housing market simply doesn’t translate to the business market," said Hartnack.
More than 400 Minnesota businesses with less than $10 million in revenue were surveyed during the month of June. This is the first in what U.S. Bank hopes will be an annual survey.
8 Comments
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Tom, always remember this friendly rhyme:
“Seal is green, in da machine,
Seal is Blue, stays with you.”
:-)
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
Wabbit, are you telling me I shouldn’t have just put that into the candy machine?
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 10:40 am
McCain disowned that comment so quickly and thoroughly that I doubt the press will give it legs. It would be great to have it stick, but I don’t think a lot of people know who Phil Gramm is in the first place (Though a quick read of “Yertle the Turtle” might help).
I’m more curious where ya got the Series 1957 Silver Certificate. :-)
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 9:28 am
That “nation of whiners” comment is going to be a killer for McCain. He knows it too. When pressed on whether Gramm might serve as his treasury secretary yesterday, McCain suggested that he might tap him for ambassador to Belarus, “although I’m not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that.”
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 4:28 am
That “nation of whiners” comment is going to be a killer for McCain. He knows it too. When pressed on whether Gramm might serve as his treasury secretary yesterday, McCain suggested that he might tap him for ambassador to Belarus, “although I'm not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that.”
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 5:40 am
McCain disowned that comment so quickly and thoroughly that I doubt the press will give it legs. It would be great to have it stick, but I don't think a lot of people know who Phil Gramm is in the first place (Though a quick read of “Yertle the Turtle” might help).
I'm more curious where ya got the Series 1957 Silver Certificate. :-)
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 7:11 am
Wabbit, are you telling me I shouldn't have just put that into the candy machine?
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 9:02 am
Tom, always remember this friendly rhyme:
“Seal is green, in da machine,
Seal is Blue, stays with you.”
:-)
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