Many owners feel election won't matter

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), August, 1996

While the eyes of the world will be focused on the U.S. presidential race, many small-and mid-size business owners believe it doesn't matter who gets elected in November. A national survey of 1,197 business owners reveals that 19.3% expect the election to affect their business negatively; 17% anticipate positive changes; and 37.6% see no change ahead.

"Right or wrong, many business owners believe the outcome of the election will not significantly affect the key factors that can make or break their companies--taxes, money supply, trade policy government regulation, and health care costs," explains Donald J. Fletcher, president of George S. May International, Park Ridge, III., which conducted the poll. He notes that more-experienced business owners tend to be less concerned about the changes that may or may not result from campaign promises. "If they've been around awhile, business owners should have the flexibility to absorb the small ups and downs that might result from election-year changes."

The retail sector seems least concerned, with 46.1% saying they expect no change regardless of the winner, as do 39.7% of those in the service sector. The most prevalent comment is that their services (including auto repair restaurants, dry cleaning, painters, vending companies, etc.) always are in demand.

Manufacturers expect to be affected most by the election. Nearly 68% say they will feel an effect, but opinions vary. Twenty-five percent foresee positive changes; 27.7% expect negative changes; and 13.3% are unsure of the results. Like their counterparts in the service sector, most manufacturers unconcerned about the election's outcome say "business has never been affected by the election in the past." Despite the professed lack of concern about the results of the election, just 14.5% of those surveyed said they don't plan to vote.,