Hey pulse, though I ain't gonna bother with providing a source, the US deficit passed the $13,000,000,000,000 (13 trillion) just a few weeks back. With the current administrations growth of the federal govt. since taking office (20% increase!) and an increase in federal salaries also this admin. has made some great strides in adding increases to the deficit that will keep on giving for years to come as each of these new govt. jobs comes complete with the regular benefits and retirement costs that will just pile on to the problems we already faced economically.

Hell man, just one byproduct of the Obamacare health care program will require up to 16,000 new IRS agents, not even mentioning the costs involved in new facilities/maintenance/utilities/printing/computers/etc. that go along with this SINGLE govt. employee add on!

Small businesses (like mine) have historically led the way out of recessions here but every small business owner I know is simply doin their best to hang on at this point and business growth is all but non-existent in todays world in the US.

Small business owners are unsure of the costs of all the new federal regulations and mandates that will effect their businesses and any with capital reserves are so apprehensive that they're NOT spending any monies not absolutely necessary as we all just keep waitin for the "next" shoe to drop. When you add to this scenario the fact that any type of business loans that actually ARE available are requiring owners to basically put their entire business up as collateral, few businesses are seeking capital improvement loans.

Right now the economy is on such shaky ground it's pretty dismal all in all and with unemployment hovering at over double the percentage rate we as a country find acceptable, businesses are havin a helluva time selling their goods and services as there's little expendable income out there to get