I own a couple of businesses here in the Smoky Mountains. I am largely in the travel and tourism industry. Prior to 2006 I was an environmental planner doing Greenway and trail work, bike ped planning and some permitting and tourism economic development. I quit my career and moved to NC in 2006 when I bought my business. I took a second mortgage out against one of my vacation rentals.
Things were going well until 2008 when the economy took a nose dive and fuel prices went north of $3.75 to $4.00 a gallon. Tourism here tanked. It tanked and stayed slow through about 2016. I call it my lost almost decade. We struggled mightily keeping our vacation rentals and retail business afloat.
I don't fully blame presidents when the economy sucks nor do I give them tons of credit when it's good. In a Republic no one person should have that much power over a free market free enterprise economy. However, I do think consumer behavior is driven in part by fear. There was a lot of concerns under the Obama years about all the changes and radical anti-free market ideas going around especially in healthcare and energy.
We are now in a growth economy. For two years my business sales and over night stays are up year after year. I expanded and added a second location and anticipate a good 4th quarter.
Recently, with the Democrats impeachment hopes dimming , I have seen more and more stories across my news feed with headlines about a possible future recession and so forth. I saw one from the NY Times giving advice on how to live with the recession then in parentheses it said maybe or something or the other.
I am convinced the media is hoping, begging or even egging a recession to start in 2020 because they hate Trump. They know a strong economy favors the incumbent see Bill Clinton or even George Bush or Regan. I know there are Knight fans who loathe Trump and others love the guy. I am luke warm on him.
For me, I have son starting college which we save for and my business is starting to grow. I spent 8 years under stress and struggling. I wish the American Press would actually be positive , hopeful and regardless of the election , I wish they would want Main Street to see growth, hire people and be successful. I just get the vibe they want guys like me to struggle and families like mine to suffer so their guy can win a stupid election.
I want a decade of good economic conditions. I want a press that doesn't instill fear when things are good. I wish both parties would celebrate the good times and work towards policies to help not only Wall Street , but Main Street too. I and many others struggled for nearly a decade. Can't we try to enjoy and celebrate what the past two years have meant especially for small businesses? Can't we stop trying to prime a pump of doom and gloom?
Things were going well until 2008 when the economy took a nose dive and fuel prices went north of $3.75 to $4.00 a gallon. Tourism here tanked. It tanked and stayed slow through about 2016. I call it my lost almost decade. We struggled mightily keeping our vacation rentals and retail business afloat.
I don't fully blame presidents when the economy sucks nor do I give them tons of credit when it's good. In a Republic no one person should have that much power over a free market free enterprise economy. However, I do think consumer behavior is driven in part by fear. There was a lot of concerns under the Obama years about all the changes and radical anti-free market ideas going around especially in healthcare and energy.
We are now in a growth economy. For two years my business sales and over night stays are up year after year. I expanded and added a second location and anticipate a good 4th quarter.
Recently, with the Democrats impeachment hopes dimming , I have seen more and more stories across my news feed with headlines about a possible future recession and so forth. I saw one from the NY Times giving advice on how to live with the recession then in parentheses it said maybe or something or the other.
I am convinced the media is hoping, begging or even egging a recession to start in 2020 because they hate Trump. They know a strong economy favors the incumbent see Bill Clinton or even George Bush or Regan. I know there are Knight fans who loathe Trump and others love the guy. I am luke warm on him.
For me, I have son starting college which we save for and my business is starting to grow. I spent 8 years under stress and struggling. I wish the American Press would actually be positive , hopeful and regardless of the election , I wish they would want Main Street to see growth, hire people and be successful. I just get the vibe they want guys like me to struggle and families like mine to suffer so their guy can win a stupid election.
I want a decade of good economic conditions. I want a press that doesn't instill fear when things are good. I wish both parties would celebrate the good times and work towards policies to help not only Wall Street , but Main Street too. I and many others struggled for nearly a decade. Can't we try to enjoy and celebrate what the past two years have meant especially for small businesses? Can't we stop trying to prime a pump of doom and gloom?
