Government

Mich. Teen Starts Hot Dog Stand to Help Disabled Parents, Shut Down by City Almost Immediately

13 year old Nathan Duszynski Saves Up Money for a Hot Dog Stand to Help Disabled Parents, Gets Shut Down by the City

(Photo: Mackinac Center for Public Policy)

Just how hard is it to start a business in Michigan?  Nearly impossible, it seems, if the recent endeavors of 13-year-old Nathan Duszynski are any indication.

“I was trying to help my mom and my dad, because they’re both on disability,” Duszynski explained, saying that one parent has epilepsy and the other has multiple sclerosis, “so I was just trying to bring in some money for them and the household while they’re struggling.”

(Related: President Obama: ‘If You Have a Business– You Didn’t Build That.  Somebody Else Made That Happen)

So young Nathan saved money by doing odd jobs for neighbors and extra chores until, with a little bit of help from his parents, he had enough money to buy his own hot dog cart.  Reports indicate that in addition to helping out his family, Duszynski also hoped that if he worked there long enough, he might be able to help pay for college or a car.

“We went and we talked with Anna from City Hall on the third floor, and she told us that it was fine, and we wanted to make sure that we stopped in there in person about a month ago…and asked her…do we need a business permit, license?  And she said no,” Duszynski’s mother Lynette explained.

Bur after they had spent roughly $1,500 on the cart, on the same day they set it up in the parking lot of a local sports store (with the owner’s consent), the city stopped by to let the 13-year-old know he was being shut down.

Most reports indicate that the stand was only up and running for about ten minutes before the city official dropped by. (Don’t you wish they moved that quickly at the DMV?)

(Related: Running Gag: Another Lemonade Stand Shut Down by Authorities)

Apparently, there is a zoning law that prevents competition from food stands with a number of restaurants in the area.

Michael LaFaive, the director of the Mackinac Center for Fiscal Policy said: “It’s no surprise…What makes market capitalism work is the ability of individuals to provide highly nuanced, competing alternatives to some existing business.  This seems like just another sad episode of some government micromanaging the lives of many to benefit a few.”

Here’s a video of the young entrepreneur and his parents:

“I‘m getting shut down already and I haven’t even started,” Duszynski remarked in disbelief.

“[And] now, we’re stuck with all these hot dogs” his mother added.

The next step, the family agreed, is to sell the cart and somehow use the money to try to change the ordinance.

Fortunately, a local business stepped in to ensure the young man didn’t take a loss for his entrepreneurial endeavor, buying it for a whopping $2,500 dollars.

WZZM 13 reported:

Shoreline Container heard about Nathan’s problem and decided to help him out. Managers at the company was especially impressed by his professionalism at such a young age.

“He’s just a real go-getter, and at that age that’s unusual. It’s unusual that they can relate to adults like he does and so he really caught our eye, so to speak,” said Carolyn Norman, who works for the container company.

The packaging company will be using the cart for outdoor cookouts, but will still allow Nathan to use it on special occasions. In fact, Nathan already has one wedding lined up.

But commenters haven‘t been able to resist pointing out the irony between the president’s recent comment that, “if you have a business, you didn’t build that…somebody else made that happen,” and how the government really prevented this boy’s success.

One wrote: “Think of all the business that did NOT happen, thanks to government bureaucrats and regulations.”

(H/T: Gateway Pundit)

Comments (125)

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  • jungle J
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:06pm

    the real America was stolen by the lazy and the greedy.

    Report Post »  
    • THX-1138
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:39pm

      From the Indians…

      (Well, someone was gonna say it…)

      Report Post » THX-1138  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 4:24pm

      The land was competed for, not stolen (not that shady deals didn’t happen ). Since the beginning of life, territory: Plant , Animal and Human Animal, have competed for resources, why should Humans be any different?We, in America have been the luckiest humans in history, and with O’slackers running our Gov, we are close to being screwed. WTSHTF, you will see real bad things happen. Best be ready

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Tex Expatriate
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 7:08pm

      Is still being stolen. We can get it back, but it will take 30 years of electing genuine Americans, and we will have to destroy the Marxist Democrats and their political party.

      Report Post »  
    • Jakareh
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 5:47am

      The Indians kept “stealing” the land from one another. Unfortunately for them, a new kid showed up and started playing the game. The sad reality of the world is that no nation will keep its land unless it has the power to keep it. My Armenian ancestors learned that the hard way at the hands of the Turks.

      Right now, something similar is happening in America. CAIR, ISNA and the other Muslim Brotherhood fronts are planning to conquer America for Allah through immigration, conversion, and having lots of babies and then fold it into a worldwide caliphate.

      Absurd, you say? Well, they don’t think so.

      Report Post »  
    • bigbear_awake
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 8:50am

      thats what the criminal in chief means by “someone else did that meaning” not being SMART or HARD WORK the city official would have been the success of that boys success…
      wonder if he will take credit of the unsuccessful of that Boys Future??? people with power have no idea about anything other that to kill your HOPE AND SUCCESS

      Report Post » bigbear_awake  
    • georgette
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:39am

      My country made a practice of encouraging kids to mow lawns, put up lemonade stands, deliver newspapers, etc. because it taught an important message. That message has changed . The message they’re sending is not one I would teach a child…..nor would I wish them to be a role model for my child. For shame, Michigan…..for being part of the problem, not the solution.

      Report Post »  
  • hightide
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:56pm

    So, They shut down a hot dog stand in 10 minutes, but drug dealers are never shut down. riiiiggghhhhttttt…

    Report Post »  
    • SCREW-WINDOWS
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 5:49pm

      Union tactic shut down the competition.

      Report Post » SCREW-WINDOWS  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:36pm

      ya would should beat the crap out the dirty little rat. wait and see will get him yet

      Report Post »  
    • dirtydog1776
      Posted on August 9, 2012 at 7:48am

      The police pick on victims that are unable to resist…..like women, children, old people. Drug dealers are too tough for them and shoot back.

      Report Post » dirtydog1776  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:53pm

    …
    This kid is so well groomed. I can’t remember the last time I saw a young teenage boy with a decent haircut, neat pants, a nice clean shirt with a collar and it tucked in.
    This kid will go far. God bless him for trying to help his parents.

    Report Post »  
    • SCREW-WINDOWS
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 5:51pm

      Don’t judge people by their looks those criminals in Congress wear suits.

      Report Post » SCREW-WINDOWS  
  • bobefann
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:53pm

    I find it funny how our government claims to be comprised of mostly free market values, but this just shows the exact opposite

    Report Post » bobefann  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:52pm

    Government: ‘Here kid, take some food stamps and a welfare check and shut up.”

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:02pm

      GONZO, LOL, unfortunately, now that he is trying to be a rugged individual and take care of his family without being on the government dole he will be penalized should he apply now. Or, rather if his family applies. Yeah, he had a lot of help from the overlapping governments, didn’t he?

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • Brad Wesselmann
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:51pm

      He doesn’t need anything from the government, he will make it on his own worth and value…there are plenty here to see to it!!!

      Report Post » Brad Wesselmann  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 4:57pm

      Yea, well once he started bringing in money, they would cut his parents disability anyway. That‘s why it’s easier to just stay on the teat of the government. They hope you’ll vote them in again so you can keep sitting at home and being lazy. You’re easier to overthrow that way. They still don‘t realize they’ve awakened the sleeping beast….

      Report Post »  
    • battles
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 5:01pm

      Actually, that is probably what the problem was. He didn’t accept food stamps.

      Report Post » battles  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 5:13pm

      Mommy and daddy did.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • SREGN
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:51pm

    If you want to build a business, government can make that not happen.

    Report Post »  
  • trevthomp
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:51pm

    Anti competition laws crush aspiring business owners. Happens all the time.

    Report Post »  
  • SOUNDTHETRUMPET
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:47pm

    The business that has the parking lot pays the same tax’s. This is just a example of city corruption. I hope the news media and the citizen in Holland makes all this corruption known and keep saying it until the communist pigs do the right thing.

    Report Post »  
  • Josiah13
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:44pm

    This kid is awsesome, and his parent too for supporting him. We need the idiotic practices of our bloated bureaucracy exposed again and again. The pressure against such “propping up” of business by gov’t ordinances will mount and change WILL COME.

    Report Post » Josiah13  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:51pm

      If this bloated overreaching government existed a century ago there would be no Nathan Hot Dogs,No Famous Amus cookies either. Those were two business built from the street level up.

      Report Post »  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:53pm

      Why pressure “the system”? It’s faceless and inhuman. Why can’t we start naming names? I mean if I drive drunk and get caught do I not get put in the paper? It’s public record. These are public servants using your money to do bad things. NAME THEM!!! Don’t pressure city hall. Pressure John Doe the health inspector. Pressure Officer Smith for carting off people for no reason. Pressure, the bureaucrats who do this to people. Name names. “Joe Smith of 123 Elm ST came and told me that I had to stop or he’d take me to jail.” Here is Joe Smith’s facebook page and cell phone number. Betchya Joe Smith might start rethinking if he was being paid enough to hassle people.

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • RogueCop
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:13pm

      For Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve,

      While I certainly can understand your position on this, I would just like to point out that many many times cops are told to do these sorts of things by their bosses who were told by the chief who was told by a city administrator/council member etc…I absolutely abhor bothering people for this sort of thing but if it is “technically” illegal, then I do not have a choice to enforce it. Especially if it comes from above me. Change the law. Don’t try to punish me for enforcing it by posting my personal information for some whacko to come try to harm me or my family. This does nothing but further exploit the “us vs them” mentality

      Report Post »  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:27pm

      @Roque,

      I understand what you are saying. I appreciate your point of view and your service. But using “legal” as the litmus test on whether you should take action is a slippery slope. Shouldn’t you be asking yourself if it is right or wrong? Furthermore, if “legal” is the lens we use then why should you not be proud to say that “I’m the one that shut this down…you can thank me when you see me for saving you all.” If you are right legally and if legal legitimacy equals moral acceptance then why hide?

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:33pm

      @ Rogue,

      Sorry I should have made one more point. Believe me, I understand your personal struggle. You need to reconcile what you do however you need to in order to be comfortable with who you are. I mean we all do that to some extent. But you brought up the “us vs. them” mentality. I will argue that you can’t keep clicking your heels and obeying orders without a moral litmus test over what you are doing is right or wrong and then clam to be part of “US”.

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:37pm

      You know, I’m trying to deal with my own challenge here. I would say that while I’m a Libertarian I am 100% Pro-Life and do not believe that my tax dollars should be allowed to fund abortions in any way. I would sit in a jail cell in civil disobedience to that end. However, I don’t even know how to withhold it? The government takes it before I even see it. Only property and excise taxes can I really impact and they aren’t being used to that end. How jacked up is it that the system won’t even allow civil disobedience?

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 8:35am

      Roguecop,
      Nazi soldiers in the camps used that excuse just “following order”
      Police swear an oath to the Constitution not the Justice department,or the criminal code handbook.
      They are suppose to protect and serve the people not the 8 mile thick criminal code book.
      How was shutting this kid down serving the people.

      Report Post »  
  • ConcernedforTX
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:43pm

    If… If…. You want to build a business ……. you can’t build that! [best Obama voice]

    Report Post »  
  • alpha2omega47
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:41pm

    The Obama progressive, anti-American cult is against anyone who tries to succeed except for lazy bums and freaks. This guy might try applying for Unemployment, Social Security Disability, a government grant of some sort or a free scooter chair. He‘d have better luck trying to do those things than trying to do what he’s trying to do now. Obama, Pelosi, Harry Reid, Holder, Barney Frank, John Kerry, Barbara Boxer and the rest of you corrupt, rotten, professional, political liars are traitors and thieves. To hell with all of you corrupt politicians and you know who you are.

    Report Post » alpha2omega47  
  • father_of_10
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:41pm

    Was Obama there to make sure this kid got shut down? Maybe not in person, but certainly in spirit. At no time before in history have we had a president that has done more economic damage to this country.

    Report Post » father_of_10  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:56pm

      Why not name the butt-head who showed up to shut him down? Aren’t we all accountable for what we do? The Nazi‘s didn’t get off with the “I was only following orders” excuse so why should these people? These people who enforce the whims of the ruling elite live next to you and shop at your grocery store and we do nothing to hold them accountable. Shame them. If you crushed a little kid’s dream then you ought to have your name on it no?

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
  • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:40pm

    Look at all of your comments. Yet, we just hang our head and move on with our lives. I can’t stand the OWS crowd, but at least they’ll do time in a jail cell to stand up for what they believe. Listen to Beck’s show and he plays the Birmingham Jail song repeatedly. How many of us are willing to set in a “Birmingham Jail” for what we believe? (Yes, I suck too.) And if this kid refused to shut down how many of you would cheer your beloved cops for carting him off to jail.

    Y’all need to reconcile some of your worldviews in totality. Start putting your issues all together and see if they make sense. Obey the law. The laws/regulations are an infringement on freedom. Cops are awesome. They shouldn’t shut down this boy. On and on. REPEAT: I’m indicting myself here. Seriously, start making sense of what is wrong and right on principle and not story by story. Then ask yourself, what would it really take to make you sit in a Birmingham Jail….be honest.

    Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • AnimalsAsLeaders
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:57pm

      sing it brother

      Report Post » AnimalsAsLeaders  
    • alpha2omega47
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:00pm

      What we need to do is realize that the Progressives, Socialists, Marxists, Communists or whatever you want to call them have infiltrated or political parties, unions, colleges and government. We need to start by getting rid of (voting out) every stinking one of them; starting with our Kenyan Communist King ~ Barack Hussein, (Barry the Interceptor Soetoro), Obama or whoever he is; then we need to vote Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Maxine Waters and the rest of the crooks out of our government. And as for you so-called blacks and Latinos ~ you guys need to decide whether or not you want to continue being black or Latino or be Americans. We only have one American running for president right now and that is Mitt Romney and he’s already got my vote. God bless America.

      Report Post » alpha2omega47  
    • RANGER1965
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 3:15pm

      You’re right Rothbardian. It’s easy to blame culture, politicians, the invasion of marxists, Obama, etc etc… But this type of universal blame is a cop out. It’s a way of saying, I’m angry, but I’m just one guy. What can one guy do against…Obama…Communist thought in America, etc etc…

      Evil by it’s very nature grows and spreads in darkness. When exposed to the light it quickly disolves.

      By holding the “DOERS” of evil policy accountable, and exposing their actions to discerning public eye it will make enforcement of evil policies impossible. It’s also somthing an individual can do. You don’t need a supreme court decision, or an act of congress to tell the public servant who lives next door that what they are doing is wrong. An individual can write a petition, name names, write an editorial, and NOT! let the doer of evil off the hook by using that tried and true mantra “I’m just doing my job.”

      When the heat gets turned up on them, they’re gonna start telling their superiors things like…”You want this crap done, then do it yourself.” And when that happens you’ll see the roaches scurry back into hiding.

      You’re really on to somthing here.

      RANGER

      Report Post » RANGER1965  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:46pm

      alp you are right but romney is only a small part, we need to take back our town our schools our local goverment then the feds have no power

      Report Post »  
  • ADNIL
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:40pm

    Another budding business failed – he surely didn’t do THAT by himself. The gubbament made that happen.

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:39pm

    Any man who would eat dog mean is not fit to be called an American. Dogs have helped this country become great. These animals are always saving lives, helping people, herding sheep that otherwise men could not round up or cattle. Dogs are better than Obama and his cohorts. I would chose a dog over any of them. They are not fit to be on American soil.

    Report Post » blackyb  
    • Disgusted_in_CT
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 5:33pm

      LOL, thanks for the laugh.
      BTW, hotdogs are not made out of Dogs.
      Well maybe in your country they are but not in America.

      Report Post » Disgusted_in_CT  
    • Gootch
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 7:57pm

      Speaking of which, his dog BO has more valid paperwork than his master.

      Report Post »  
  • truthseekerusa
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:39pm

    This young boy is what America was all about once upon a time. The bureaucrats in that city should hang their heads in shame. They are the killers of the American dream.

    Report Post »  
    • Augustus McCrae
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:59pm

      This is what happens when the people let their country be bought off by the monoply banking cartel, no competition all the way down to the local governments. In case you Beckites have’nt noticed the whole system is bought and paid for, or blackmailed that is why no one has or will go to jail. Quit calling them Government Officals. They are PUBLIC SERVANTS period. They are not our masters, SERVANTS we need to start reminding them of that.

      Report Post » Augustus McCrae  
  • Too_Far_Gone
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:38pm

    Don’t worry too much, all this is noted in The Book of Life ..

    Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
  • valleyfever
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:38pm

    Wow!! That kid will be a success in life.

    Report Post »  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:36pm

    I half-expected to read that the City was citing “pork in the hotdogs” as the reason for shutting the stand down. After all, it is Michigan.

    Report Post » MODEL82A1  
  • blackyb
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:35pm

    That is what you get for voting in Obama and thugs. They want you to be bogged down with any and every regulation so you will be discouraged or even starve. Those stands should be clean and inspected and left alone with a spot check once in awhile. It is no one’s business. Obama wants criminals and thugs out on the street stealin, robbing and selling drugs so they can further destroy this country. Obama is evil and so is anyone who votes for this baby murderer and destroyer of the American way of life.

    Report Post » blackyb  
    • Too_Far_Gone
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:41pm

      “Obama is evil and so is anyone who votes for this baby murderer and destroyer of the American way of life.”

      Perfect !

      Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
    • Supertad108
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:48pm

      Although everything you said is spot on it is truly bigger than Obama. This attack on our Republic has been culminating for over a century, if not the same day the Declaration was signed. Removing individuals will not work. We are going to have to clean house and reboot.

      Report Post »  
  • RANGER1965
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:34pm

    It’s the people that allowed this type of thing to come to pass.

    It’s the people that will have to correct it….or not.

    Report Post » RANGER1965  
  • oldasdirt
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:32pm

    This is no longer the country I grew up in.Freedom is gone.I blame all politicians because they don’t represent We The People anymore.

    Report Post » oldasdirt  
    • blackyb
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:37pm

      They are trying to hook up everything with the United Nations to become a one world government. Those who have gone over should be impeached. The United Nations are nothing but blood suckers and thugs. Get them out of our country.

      Report Post » blackyb  
    • RANGER1965
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:37pm

      We are collectively to blame. When we vote dirt bags in, or through inaction allow dirt bags to win because we don’t challenge them, then this is the goverment we get. The one we deserve.

      It‘s the people’s problem, and the people will have to correct it…or not.

      Report Post » RANGER1965  
  • theninthplanet
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:30pm

    You didn’t build that, and I’m going to make sure of it!

    Report Post » theninthplanet  
  • randy
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:29pm

    President Obama……. “If you want to build it, we won’t let you!”

    Report Post » randy  
  • BobtheMoron
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:29pm

    Government is the enemy of free enterprise and personal responsibility.

    Report Post » BobtheMoron  
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