Small businesses not thrilled with the feds

Curious as to how other companies are feeling about the current government and its future? A recent survey found there’s little to cheer about.

The stimulus checks went out with much fanfare, earlier this summer. They were supposed to help boost the economy, but how much did they really help small businesses? Seventy-eight percent of businesses surveyed in a Suffolk University poll said the stimulus didn’t help them at all.  

An even larger percentage, 81%, says the country’s in the midst of an economic recession. And exactly half of the businesses surveyed think the economy’s only going to get worse. The resulting credit crunch has impacted 57% of small businesses.

When asked what’s affecting them the most:

• 49% said it’s gas and energy costs
• Labor costs and inflation came in a close second, and
• Health care was, surprisingly, near the bottom of their list of concerns.

A high number of respondents, 77 percent, think the oil reserves in Alaska and off-shore Florida and California should be open for drilling to ease rising costs.

Election outlook

With presidential campaigns in full swing many are looking at their stance on economic matters. But who gets the support of small business owners?

McCain pulls ahead with 38 percent favoring him over Obama, who has 21 percent supporting him. But there are 32 percent of the respondents still up for grabs.

Almost half of those surveyed aren’t sure who has the best program for small businesses, while an alarming 80% have no idea about where either candidate stands on small business matters.

As for potential vice presidential choices, they swayed towards candidates with strong economic backgrounds.  Hilary Clinton and Mitt Romney were very close with 49 percent of Democrats favoring Clinton and 43 percent of Republicans in Romney’s camp.

Give us your two-cents about the economy and presidential candidates.