Economic future remains in doubt

I cornered a small businessman in St. Louis over the weekend and asked the question probably heard before: "How's business?"

With honesty not always afforded to a stranger, he told me that his business was "off" slightly from the past but that his current sales were not his prime concern. He said he was afraid at what lays ahead.

The man said his business depended on a large volume of customers who each spend a little. He had no "big ticket" items to boost sales. Just the everyday smaller purchases that are more "needs" than "wants."

The businessman said he didn't need anyone telling him about the high unemployment numbers. He could readily tell that from looking at his cash register at the end of the day.

With the runaway spending currently the vogue in our federal government, there is true reason for concern. I stop just short of being fearful of the future. But it's not a grand leap to reach that point.

Despite the counter-productive approach, I will join millions of others in cutting back holiday spending this year. The St. Louis businessman said he felt like a hypocrite: he too was cutting his holiday spending while at the same time hoping that others would still drop a few bucks in his store.

As the small businessman pointed out, his concerns for current business were overshadowed in his mind by the concern for the future. Though he was not happy with his December business he was much more concerned with the next six months or the next year. And his concerns, I believe, are shared by the majority of the public.

If Congress continues to grind our economy to a virtual halt and if anyone believes you can spend your way out of debt, then concerned we should be.

If the health care overhaul is successful and if cap and trade becomes a reality, the Obama dream of wealth distribution will evaporate. There will be no more wealth to distribute. Period!

When people believe they have lost control of their financial future, fear is not far behind. And when people discontinue believing the government hype, then where do we turn?

I made a small purchase with the businessman not because it was something I needed but I thought it was the least I could do to lend a hand as a show of support. But I realized that I, too, was in the same drifting boat as this business owner. Look around. We're all in that very same boat.