SmashMouth

President Obama's message to entrepreneurs that "you didn't build that" prompted one Georgia business owner to respond with a not-so-subtle retort.
"I built this business without gov't help. Obama can Kiss my ass," reads the sign outside Gaster Lumber & Hardware in Savannah, Ga. Owner Ray Gaster posted that and two similar ones at all three of his company's locations in response to Obama's comments during a speech to supporters in Virignia, which struck a nerve with small business owners around the nation.



"When I heard what he said, I said 'I'm going to give him an answer in Chicago language--something he's used to.'"
- Ray Gaster
“If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help," the president said at a campaign stop last month in Roanoke, Va.. "There was a great teacher somewhere in your life," he continued. "Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”
Since the comments created a firestorm, Obama's campaign has sought to put the comments in perspective, saying that Obama only meant that businesses rely on the community to flourish. Yet, his opponents have seized on the remarks, making them something of a small business rallying cry.
Gaster, a Vietnam veteran, told FoxNews.com he built his now 28-year-old business from the ground up.
"I started on my own," Gaster said. "The government wasn't there. We work long, hard hours and what he said is an insult to any businessman."
The sign has been criticized for its harsh language, but Gaster said that the rough words were necessary.
"When I heard what he said, I said 'I'm going to give him an answer in Chicago language--something he's used to,'" he told FoxNews.com. "If I would have said 'Dear Mr. President...' there wouldn't have been as strong of a response."
Gaster sent a photo of his sign to 45 of his friends and business acquaintances. He said he wants other businesses to post signs as well.
"We need to stand up to the criticism coming from our own government. If this economy is to get better, it will be driven by small and independent businesses. We are part of the solution, not the problem," Gaster said.
"I want to use this sign to urge other businesspeople to stand up and say 'Mr. President, you're wrong. I built my business,'" he told FoxNews.com. "I represent the majority of business owners in my belief."


Read more: Georgia lumberyard owner hammers Obama on 'You didn't build that' | Fox News

ScottF

I should have stopped reading after "Georgia Lumberyard Owner",
but, unlike the Georgia lumberyard owner who only read part of the speech, I read the whole article.

Couple of questions for Ray: who built that highway in front his business? who delivers the mail to that mailbox? When did the government criticize small business?

Mardigras9

TOUCHE !!!!

Halo

Let's keep all the "Obama to small business - you didn't build your business" threads in 1 thread.

How is this a "conspiracy" or " Aliens, UFO's, Ufology, The Bilderberg Group, Ancient Aliens, and the REAL truth behind the government all to be exposed within."

Where is the "disclosure" here when it's disclosed in the face all over the place?

I'm asking a serious question.

Srgt. Hulka

The taxpayers built that road. Taxpayers like small business owner Ray Gaster, that's who. Without small business owners paying salaries to employees, who by the way, both the owner and the employees pay taxes, there would be no road...period.

Danno

Good point. One could easily say "Government didn't build that!" and they'd be 100% correct.

ScottF

So in other words, Ray Gaster 'did not build that' road.
Gaster, in conjunction with other taxpayers, contributed to a government issued tax fund that was then used by the government to construct the road.
If there was no tax, there would be no road, and Ray would have to exercise his first amendment rights somewhere other than in front of his small business, like maybe in front of his cabin.

SapperSaint

Who built the dirt roads that were used in the 1930's and prior?

Oh yeah, the people did that.

Taxpayers pay for roads and bridges, not the government. I don't care how you spin it.

Land owners pay those taxes. Taxes on land that they bought, paid sales tax on and still get taxed for every year until they die.

Our taxes are what fund this country. So if the tax payersare where the money is coming from that the government is using; then the Government has done NOTHING to help give people a break.

What's the conspiracy?

Why do I still pay taxes on land that I bought and paid for (to include the sales tax I paid at the purchase)? And why do those taxes not lower (like a car tag does)?

"We are number one. All others are number two, or lower."
-The Sphinx
http://blackandgold.com/groups/28-ou...tsman-s-corner

QBREES9

Me too.

Danno

Well said. The Government is OUR employee. We don't work for the Government, they work for us the taxpayers.

Unfortunately we way overpay them for mediocre services.

So YES!!! Small business owners DID bulid their businesses despite the inefficiencies, obstacles and corruption of the US Government.