NFIB

Throughout the history of American politics, two groups of citizens have had a major impact on the outcome of elections. One group is known as the "silent vote" or the "stay-at-homes"—registered voters who don't care enough about the future of their nation to take the time and effort to go to the polls and exercise their democratic right to cast a ballot. The other group is America's small-business owners.

Small-business owners care a lot about their government. An NFIB Research Foundation Poll about political participation found that a disproportionately large percentage of small-business owners—95 percent—are registered to vote and an almost-equally large share—84 percent—usually do so.

And hundreds of those small-business men and women will be in Washington, D.C., this month for the 2006 NFIB National Small-Business Summit. They will take a message to their senators and representatives that they want affordable health insurance, less regulation, a fair tax code and an end to frivolous lawsuits. They will be speaking for the millions of small-business owners who account for more than half of the jobs in America.

Few segments of society have more legitimate excuses than small-business owners to stay home, to skip a major event like the Summit or an election day. Not only do they have enterprises to lead and manage, but in many cases, they are pretty much their business' entire labor force.

But a strong sense of duty runs through this segment of our population: 96 percent believe that every citizen should participate in government, if only to vote; 82 percent agree that business owners are leaders who have a responsibility to show the way in matters of public affairs and other key components of society.

This year would be an easy time for small-business owners to be "stay-at-homes" and not participate in their government. It's a tense time in Washington, with frequent nasty clashes erupting between political leaders who believe in the promise and potential of the American free enterprise system and those who see it only as a source of tax funds for even larger government programs and projects that bleed hard-earned dollars away from the nation's true needs. Major issues ranging from immigration policy to out-of-control health care costs to excessive government regulation spawn charges and counter-charges.

But these, and other threats to the future of our nation, are the very reasons why the entrepreneurs who create and successfully grow the nation's 25 million-plus small firms can ill afford to stay at home when political duty calls.

There is still time for small-business owners who care enough about the most important segment of the nation's economy to make the trip to Washington June 18 – 20 to affirm the small-business sector's belief that achieving good public policy is a constant struggle, but a struggle well worth the effort—and the time.