Small business owners not happy with US govt: Survey

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Small business owners feel that Washington is doing little to help them in the difficult time they are facing because of the economic downturn, a new poll shows.

The poll released by the American Management Services, nation's major small business organisation, reveals that 63 per cent of respondents feel that the Federal government is doing "nothing" and another 23 per cent say it is doing little.

During the poll conducted by Suffolk University, 78 per cent said that the much hyped economic stimulus announced by the Bush government for this summer did nothing to help their business.

The survey reveals that a staggering 81 per cent small business owners feel the country is in an economic recession and 57 per cent said the credit crunch has directly affected their small business.

It also states that exactly half of them believe the economy will worsen and 72 per cent believe that the federal government is bailing out Wall Street and big business.

"The results are clear. Our country's 23 million small business owners are disappointed with the lack of action on their behalf. While Wall Street and big businesses get bailed out, small businesses receive no assistance in these difficult times," said George Cloutier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Management Services.

"With rising gas prices and an economy in recession, the poll shows us that it's time the federal government and congressional leadership implement concrete emergency programs to help small businesses," he said, stating that tens of thousands of small businesses are on the verge of failure due to government's inaction.

Wall Street firms can borrow billions at 2.28 per cent but average small businesses are having their credit cut off. They create 60 per cent of the nation's jobs. The small business industry is clearly an economic engine and it's stalling. It's time to get it re-started," he added.

In terms of presidential politics, the poll revealed that the small business owners favour US Senator John McCain over Sen Barack Obama by a margin of 38 per cent to 21 per cent, with 32 per cent of the respondents undecided.