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Friday's letters: Young, nimble companies create jobs

 
Published Jan. 8, 2015

Job creator mythology ignores bigger forces | Jan. 1, commentary

Young, nimble firms create jobs

In this column, professors William Holahan and Charles Kroncke present a one-sided view of how job creation works. Among those of us who believe that entrepreneurs do, in fact, create jobs, nobody has ever denied the role of "well-functioning markets." Of course markets matter. Nobody ever claimed that entrepreneurs work in a vacuum without any outside influence.

Entrepreneurs do things that nobody else is willing or able to do. Academic research shows that "gazelles" (young, nimble, high-growth companies) create the vast majority of net new jobs in the United States. Without the entrepreneurs who founded those companies, where would these net new jobs come from? The answer is that we wouldn't have them.

In our economy, the decisions that entrepreneurs make have a direct influence on job creation. As a counter example, consider the Japanese economy. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Japan is persistently one of the weakest countries in the world at entrepreneurship. Japan has "well-functioning markets" and many customers, but virtually no entrepreneurs. Here in the United States, we should encourage our gazelles to keep creating jobs.

Jody Tompson and Holly Tompson, Tampa

A bad year for transparency | Jan. 4

Obama's opaqueness

I am well aware of the shoddy actions of our governor, Rick Scott. However, our state's political bureaucracies are crystal clear compared to the actions and activities of President Barack Obama's administration.

The lies, deceit, hypocrisy, arrogance and demagoguery by Obama have been unrestrained. Regrettably, with his opaqueness, he desires to conceal his deplorable actions and, too often, his reluctance and failure to act.

Merle Barlow, Clearwater

Leader worth remembering

A recent call-in television program asked viewers whom they considered a "political hero." Most of the responses included former presidents or leaders of specific movements. The name Reubin Askew kept popping up in my mind.

Then in your Sunday paper came mention of him in your lead story, and again on Monday you included a quotation from one of his inaugural addresses. He fought for government in the sunshine, civil rights and corporate taxation. Many supporters thought he was committing political suicide when he went on television showing two identical shirts from the same retailer, one bought in Miami and one in Atlanta. The corporation was paying $500,000 in taxes to Georgia but a paltry $2,000 to Florida. He made his point and won legislation to increase corporate taxation. Our current governor is trying to do away with it.

Many readers won't know anything about Askew, because another story reported that only 36 percent of current Florida residents were born here. I was, and am, proud to call former Govs. Askew, Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham political heroes.

Paul S. Cooper, St. Petersburg

Oil prices

Consumers still paying

Yes, we have been enjoying a great drop in oil prices for the past few months and we're loving it, but I have an issue with the electric companies not dropping their fuel surcharges. Lakeland Electric has been at $0.04585 per kilowatt hour since the summer. When I asked, I was told that it was because they buy in bulk. So they haven't needed to buy oil since last summer? Or are they hoping we won't notice?

Stuart Rhodes, Lakeland

The wait is over | Jan. 7

An inclusive nation

Congratulations to all newly married gay couples in Florida. History was on your side. Remember the national meltdown when gays were allowed to serve openly in the military? Oh, that's right, it didn't happen. The country moved on. And we shall move on from this, as well. If we are an inclusive nation, we must (and eventually will) include all.

John Ways, South Pasadena

Fun pier is a fiscal challenge | Dec. 28

Figure out function first

What is the new St. Petersburg Pier going to be used for? That should be the deciding point as to what it looks like. So far, the replacement ideas have been like something out of Disney World: a circular or spiral look that is more like a roller coaster ride than a destination point.

If we are going to use the Pier as a destination point, with good views of the skyline and Tampa Bay, that means music, shows, and restaurants and shops.

Fishing? It is a pier, after all. That will require uncluttered rails and a bait shop with fishing tackle. It could also include a snack shop. However, there are already piers at Fort De Soto and the Skyway. Do we need another fishing location?

Once the new Pier's ultimate use is decided, the form will be easily designed.

Dave Cordes, Clearwater

Downtowns need better mass transit Jan. 5, editorial

Progress means transit

I applaud the Times for its statements tying Tampa Bay's future economic progress and general quality-of-life improvements to a robust mass transit system. U.S. experience from the advent of the 20th century and, currently, around the world in Europe and Asia, proves that economic growth and success directly depend on and go hand in hand with strong mass transit systems.

We need less reliance upon automobiles, trucks, buses and ever-expanding highway projects, and more upon mass transit; in particular, upon streetcars and light rail systems. We must not be deterred by suburban voters who vote down referenda for much-needed transit investments in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties while having a small stake in the traffic jams afflicting the region. It is time to plan and develop rail transit in downtown Tampa, St. Petersburg and between the two cities.

James C. Craten, Riverview