Why should anyone feel bad for small businesses not being responsible

[Steve Tvardek]

Mass self quarantining would still count as an exogenous shock to a system outside of normal business risk calculations, thus not constituting a failure of businesses to plan IMO. Some businesses inherent weaknesses may be exposed, but almost no one is prepared to shut down their small business for an indefinite extended period of time, whether due to govt mandate or self imposed quarantining.

You say "easy & a bit lazy", I'd argue it's precisely what is most relevant right now and a prime example of the difference between a business and individual with regards to each ones effect on the economy. Now if the OP wants to bring up a specific example, then maybe this discussion will become less theoretical.

In OP's defense, he said nothing about COVID caused closures through government mandates. It's just easy & a bit lazy to make the connection due to current events.

One must ask however, if businesses remained open but the pandemic remains in full force, should we permit a socialist stance of bailing them out if people self-quarantine? Airlines and movie theaters are a prime example. It's easy to blame the government for imposing closures, but market conditions would've changed regardless of government mandates.

 

[PintoFire]

Student loan debt forgiveness vs Small Business debt forgiveness.

I don't see a lot of difference. I see stupid people getting bailed out. Why is one an abomination and the other a really bright idea.

Both are completely stupid to me but my brain hasn't been sufficiently washed yet. Maybe someone can help here.

 

[PintoFire]

It's because of the multiplier effect. Generally speaking, a small business likely employs multiple people, may involve multiple suppliers, subcontractors, other counter parties etc and therefore there is more collateral damage to a greater # of people/businesses when a small business runs into this problem than an individual. The business may also rent a workspace/factory/store front which involves a counter party on the other side dependent on that income stream.

In essence, when comparing both an individual employee vs a business owner, both falling on hard times due to no fault of their own, the net negative effect to society and the economy is greater for the small business going under than the individual. Small business accounts for roughly 44% of all business activity and, frankly, we want to encourage entrepreneurs and risk takers to start businesses, employ people and create competition in their space.

In that case, get rid of the middle man. Give people money and have them work for the state. You'll get all the same things you mentioned minus bailing out loser buniness owners.

 

[smallfil]

Yeah, blame the small businesses forced to shutdown by their state's governors. This shutdown has ruined more lives in a short period of time. Bankrupting businesses and people losing their jobs for good. Businesses could have remained open at limited capacity, a lot of them without increased risk for the public. Instead, you have rioters packed tight like sardines without social distancing, some without masks, destroying property, businesses, looting, burning and tolerated by extreme liberal Democrat Governors? Extreme liberal media has yet to report one case of Corona Virus infection? You see the TV networks covering the riots and saying how peaceful they are even though, you can see they have burned, looted, destroyed numerous businesses? No report or adverse concern about Corona Virus and how rioters should be social distancing?

 

[El OchoCinco]

large businesses get bailed out all the time by the government.....never hear your outrage there..

 

[Snarkhund]

Yeah, blame the small businesses forced to shutdown by their state's governors. This shutdown has ruined more lives in a short period of time. Bankrupting businesses and people losing their jobs for good. Businesses could have remained open at limited capacity, a lot of them without increased risk for the public. Instead, you have rioters packed tight like sardines without social distancing, some without masks, destroying property, businesses, looting, burning and tolerated by extreme liberal Democrat Governors? Extreme liberal media has yet to report one case of Corona Virus infection? You see the TV networks covering the riots and saying how peaceful they are even though, you can see they have burned, looted, destroyed numerous businesses? No report or adverse concern about Corona Virus and how rioters should be social distancing?

I'm looking at commercial buildings in my area, many of which house restaurants. My bank is skittish and reluctant because its impossible to determine the viability of those restaurants going forward. It is suppressing investment in ways that people are not aware of. Not a problem if you have mountains of cash but if you are looking to finance a commercial building good luck with that at the moment.

 

[PintoFire]

large businesses get bailed out all the time by the government.....never hear your outrage there..

Definitely not from Steve T. Bailing out failing companies is a lesson in good economics.

 

[Amun Ra]

I'm confused. When the average Joe can't save up a financial safety net and falls on hard times people always tell him/her tough shit. Go get a job. You should have been more financially responsible. When a business owner can't save money and falls on hard times and goes broke, the business owner whines and bitches and protests and immediately want a huge hand out. Then the same people that ridicule average Joe, go and defend the loser business owners and whine and cry in their defense. Why is that?

Its tough stuff if the business fails on its own. Nobody feels sorry for the business owner that didn't advertise correctly, didn't treat his customers good, or whatever else. But when the government comes in and says "you cant run your business because some people are scared of getting the flu", then it's not the same thing.

Average joe is the same. If the government comes in and says "you have to stay home and not work while your bills pile up" then he should be helped.