That's a good one...

Has anyone thought that maybe what is being called a "start up" has been re-defined? Or that maybe, people are starting things without going through all the government red tape? How is a "start up" or self-employment measured anyway?

To quote: "self-employment rose as laid-off workers started companies"

If they are basing a rise in self-employment by seeing new companies being started, then the figures will certainly be wrong.

"the share of all workers who are self-employed fell, a USA TODAY analysis of Labor Department data found."

A USA TODAY analysis? Oh yeah... that's just got to be accurate, eh? Now a JOURNALIST can analyze data? Who was it... the writer of the article?

I would also be interested to know the political leaning of the writer and the newspaper overall. Because these things have an effect on the slant of the news.

"Experts say entrepreneurship has been hurt by..."

WHO are these experts? And WHAT are they experts of?

This is scare-mongering news... written to paint a certain picture...

"Many would-be entrepreneurs say they can't afford to start a company because employer health insurance premiums are so high"

How do you find a would-be entrepreneur? Are they like "gonna" people? I'm gonna do this and gonna do that - but it never ever happens.

I would have done such and such BUT.... [insert your pathetic excuse here]

"Many firms begin with less than $20,000, often borrowed with credit cards, the source of 39% of small-business loans, Federal Reserve data say"

So unless my "start up" is funded by credit card the Fed Res doesn't think I've started anything. Oh gosh gee... that's an accurate way to measure start ups... NOT!

"Would-be entrepreneurs might be hesitant because CEOs are in the doghouse amid alleged wrongdoing"

Oh Pulease... what a load of felder carb. I can just see it... "honey, I can't start up a lawn mowing business because the CEO of Worldcom riped people off." Sha!

"VCs pumped $5.7 billion into start-ups in the second quarter, down 53% from a year ago."

Oh, what about the first quarter? (Better not mention that one because it showed a vast increase... hmmm... and how are things looking for the third quarter?)

But the best is yet to come...

"Just 16% of parents want their children to become CEOs, a Harris Poll found in July, down from 28% in 1992"

WHO are these parents? WHAT was the actual question asked of them? WHERE do they live? WHAT is their political leaning?

"And 76% of adults respect entrepreneurs, down from 91% in 1999, a Babson College poll of 2,000 adults found last year"

Again, WHAT was the question? WHO precisely were these "adults"? (21 year olds at some socialist infected college?) WHERE were these "adults" located? WHEN was the question asked?

Asking 2,000 people a question is not a true representation of anything. And the results mean nothing unless they are also released with the full details of the questioning - actual question, time of day question was asked, political leaning of person answering, sex, employment status, and so on.

Thanks for the laugh, Boyd.

Michael (I REFUSE to participate in a recession) Ross


Laugh at the recession... all the way to the bank