Government Owes Credit to Business Owners--Not the Other Way Around

Sorry President Obama. Business owners don’t owe credit to government for their success. Government owes us credit for its existence! Government doesn’t enable or empower business owners. We empower government.

Business owners would do just fine without government. But government, government employees, and the “takers” of society -- those who take checks from government -- could not survive without us -- the creators, producers and taxpayers. Simply put, we pay all the bills for government. We're the ones you ought to be thanking.

Let me paint a picture that even an economic illiterate can understand. Let’s say you own a restaurant. Who needs whom? Do the patrons of your restaurant need you? No, they could choose any one of 1,000 other restaurants in your city. They could stay home and cook for themselves. Heck, they could even choose to not eat -- most Americans could use a day off from eating.

But you -- the business owner -- could not live without customers. You desperately need their patronage. You need to be nice, genuflect and show gratitude. Without customers, you could not stay in business. Every employee of your restaurant is dependent on customers. Even ignorant leftists and socialists can’t intelligently argue with that.

Now let’s extend that “business model” to government. Government is the business. The taxpayers are the customers -- just like that restaurant example. Government doesn’t survive if we don’t pay the bills. Government is dependent on us...our hard work...our taxes. If we go on strike and stop paying, government goes out of business.

The only difference is that in a free market capitalist society, the customer freely chooses to spend his or her money at the business of their choice. But in the case of government, the customer is limited to only one choice. If government can’t pay the bills, instead of being forced out of business, government just raises taxes and extorts more money (legally, of course).

So why does Obama think we owe him? Why do progressives think we should say thank you? Sure, we need the things that help our society and economy grow -- infrastructure, roads, bridges, traffic lights, police, fire, garbage, sewers, hospitals, airports, schools, and national defense. Though much of that could be handled by private enterprise. But Obama and others miss the crucial point -- we (business owners and taxpayers) paid for that with our taxes. We built it! You owe us a debt of gratitude.

Without our business taxes, Social Security taxes, payroll taxes, workers comp taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, income taxes and estate taxes (we even pay you after we're dead), there would be no money for all those things that Obama values. Why would we thank you, for things we paid for?

Instead of telling us how much we owe government, the progressive leftists and socialists should be thanking us. Without taxpayers -- especially high income business owners -- you wouldn’t be able to build roads, bridges, highways, schools or airports. Your infrastructure exists because of our hard work. Your schools exist because of rich business owners who pay huge property tax bills. Your Social Security, Medicare, welfare, food stamps and unemployment insurance exist because of business owners paying into the system.

We're not dependent on government. Mr. Obama, every government program, every government employee and every handout addict are dependent on us. If we don't write the checks, you don't get paid. Or do you think money grows on trees?

Like any smart small business owner, government should be treating its customers with honor, respect and gratitude-- or they will go away.

Ah, there’s the problem. You believe we can’t go away. But it’s happening right now, before your eyes. In response to the way you have treated customers (i.e. taxpayers and business owners), they are in fact leaving. American business is on strike. That’s why there are no new jobs, and there won’t be until after Election Day on Nov 6. The customers are on strike.

This is a condensed version of a column that originally appeared on FoxNews.com. 

Wayne Allyn Root is a capitalist evangelist and serial entrepreneur. He is a former Libertarian vice presidential nominee. He now serves as chairman of the Libertarian National Campaign Committee. He is the best-selling author of "The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gold & Tax Cuts." For more, visit his website: www.ROOTforAmerica.com.