I’ve written about this before, but I was stimulated to return to the topic by what Mike Pence said in defense of continuing the disastrous Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest fraction of our population:


I wrote the following as a comment to the blog entry where I found his remarks on Crooks and Liars:

The casualness with which the term “small business” is tossed around does everyone a grave disservice.

Let’s play George Lakoff’s little game. I say, “Quick! Don’t think of a small business!” In your mind’s eye you immediately see a small business. Now here’s where it get’s interesting: I ask you to describe what you’re seeing.

The great majority of persons would describe something like my friend Scott’s small deli, or the mom and pop optical shop where I get my glasses, or the hardware franchise with its 8-10 employees where I shop for nuts and bolts and shovels and such.

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But compare that typical image to the U.S. government’s definitions of “small business.” Couple of examples. Depending on the field a “small business” might…

• have 1000 employees

• do $35.5 million in business per year

• have a net worth of $175 million

No conscientious person should ever use the term “small business” without qualifying what she or he means by it.