Reader comments
Readers respond on small-business owners' plight

Mark, Hang in there! I recently purchased an existing home theater business, which has done well for many years. And guess what? The pre-election (9/20) stock market tumble followed by the loss of confidence post-election is killing many of yours and my customers. Seems the "redistribution of wealth" concept isn't going to work if there aren't any wealthy!

Yes, I'm hurting from the credit crunch, too. When my own working capital runs out, I'll have to close down a thriving business, which is cyclical to start with but is challenged by all the media negativism. Why were we being told we're in a recession when we've not posted our first negative GDP quarter?

The biggest influence seems to come from the media, painting an otherwise mundane economy as dark grey.