No, They Didn’t Build It Alone

Ken AshfordElection 2012Leave a Comment

Take a look at this Romney commerical, which takes to task Obama's line (which is quoted out-of context) about businesse owners not building their business alone:

 

Now consider this:

The New Hampshire Union Leader’s John DiStato today reports that in 1999 the business in question, Gilchrist Metal, “received $800,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds issued by the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority ‘to set up a second manufacturing plant and purchase equipment to produce high definition television broadcasting equipment’…” In addition, in 2011, Gilchrist Metal “received two U.S. Navy sub-contracts totaling about $83,000 and a smaller, $5,600 Coast Guard contract in 2008…”

The businessman, Jack Gilchrist, also acknowledged that in the 1980s the company received a U.S. Small Business Administration loan totaling “somewhere south of” $500,000, and matching funds from the federally-funded New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center.

“I’m not going to turn a blind eye because the money came from the government,” Gilchrest said. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m getting some of my tax money back. I’m not stupid, I’m not going to say ‘no.’ Shame on me if I didn’t use what’s available.”

His tax money?  It's also other people's tax money.  

There's nothing wrong with receiving government loans drawn from taxes we all paid for, or using the roads and bridges that we all paid for.

But don't say that you built your business alone.  You lie.