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Re:Obama: $15B for Small Businesses by grandalf on Monday March 16, 2009 @11:02PM (#519302)
So Obama is encouraging small businesses to take on debt, and increasing the extent to which taxpayers are accountable if the business fails!

This is a very narrow policy that will not help most small businesses, particularly not most tech startups, etc. Most of us either bootstrap or take VC funding -- neither of which have any hope of taxpayer bailout!

This makes a great headline for Obama but is not doing anything for the valley.

Re:Obama: $15B for Small Businesses by gnaritas on Tuesday March 17, 2009 @03:17AM (#519561)
The country is bigger than the valley and tech isn't the only industry. Tech startups also don't make up the vast majority of small businesses in America.
Re:Obama: $15B for Small Businesses by grandalf on Tuesday March 17, 2009 @04:24AM (#519608)
True enough, but I'd strongly prefer a more general policy (such as a payroll tax holiday) that would benefit all businesses.

Anyone under 40 should feel quite foolish paying payroll taxes anyway, considering that social security will self-destruct long before we get any benefits.

So in addition to paying payroll taxes, tech startups are helping to subsidize loans for startups in other industries!

Re:Obama: $15B for Small Businesses by grandalf on Monday March 16, 2009 @11:02PM (#519305)
(not that I think any of us would actually want a handout!)
Re:Obama: $15B for Small Businesses by gabrielleydon on Monday March 16, 2009 @11:21PM (#519322)
Speak for yourself! Ill take a handout!!! :D