Local Wisdom

Living in the Atlanta metro area as I do, I’ve watched several locally founded companies like Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Turner Broadcasting, and Home Depot.  Being an entrepreneur myself, I appreciate these rags-to-riches companies’ stories.

So I was interested to see an interview with Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus on Investers.com this week.  What was amazing was that Marcus answered the interviewer’s questions exactly as I would have.

“What’s the single biggest impediment to job growth today?” the interviewer asked.  My answer: The Federal Government.  Marcus’ answer:

“The U.S. government. Having built a small business into a big one, I can tell you that today the impediments that the government imposes are impossible to deal with. Home Depot would never have succeeded if we’d tried to start it today.”

Amen.

Then a great question: “If you could sit down with Obama and talk to him about job creation, what would you say?”

Marcus: “I’m not sure Obama would understand anything that I’d say, because he’s never really worked a day outside the political or legal area. He doesn’t know how to make a payroll, he doesn’t understand the problems businesses face. I would try to explain that the plight of the businessman is very reactive to Washington. As Washington piles on regulations and mandates, the impact is tremendous. I don’t think he’s a bad guy. I just think he has no knowledge of this.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.  Marcus gives Obama the benefit of the doubt regarding his intentions, but no one is more dangerous than someone who doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. yet wields unlimited power over people.