Joe (not his real name) is a 12 year old boy living in the town of Bass, Australia, whose skateboard had seen better days. In an effort to raise enough money to buy himself a new skateboard, Joe decided to set up a stall.

He got a small table and put it in his front yard. He approached a neighbour who had loads and loads of flowers growing and ASKED if he could 'harvest' some. He then put them into bunches and offered them for sale for 50 cents a bunch. (your typical kid selling stuff, right?)

Then along came a council inspector who shut his little operation down.

WHY?

Because Joe, the 12 year old, did not have $5,000,000.00 public liability insurance, nor a business permit.

Joe's response... where I am going to come up with the money for five million dollars in public liability insurance and the $100 for a business permit? All I made was $8.

The council's response... we're protecting the public.

Joe's mother... at least he wasn't out spraying graffiti.

My thoughts... either this will destroy his entrepreneurial drive - or - increase it as he becomes determined to BEAT THE GUMMIT.

Unbelievable.

Michael Ross.