For the last two years, the television show, 60 Minutes, has done a story on Wilmington, Ohio, and its economic slowdown to a depression-like state.

In the past, Wilmington had enjoyed the benefits of being a major transportation hub for DHL’s U.S. delivery operations.  DHL employed 10,000 people and was by far the largest employer in the surrounding area.  For a city of the size of Atlanta, the loss of 10,000 jobs would be a serious blow.  For the small town of Wilmington, it is a near-death experience. 

Businesses across the town that depended on DHL employees as their customer base have closed, and unwanted houses constantly go up for auction on the court house steps. Yet the town hasn’t given up hope.  The mayor said in the most recent interview that the Obama stimulus plan was repaving Main Street which would create a couple hundred jobs temporarily.  Neighbors are helping neighbors and many of the unemployed people who were let go from DHL are regularly volunteering to aid the many charitable organizations that have moved in to help the town. 

Sometime during the 60 Minutes broadcast at the end of last year, a very profound statement was made.  The commentator said that Wilmington has discovered that as helpful as government programs and charitable organizations have been, they don’t come close to replacing a real job.  Nothing could be more true than that.

In 2009, Americans were inundated with an anti-capitalist propaganda campaign from the democratic left.  We were told that profits are evil, only government cares and that successful Americans need to “Give Back.” President Obama has even encouraged young people to pursue careers in the not-for-profit sector rather than the profit generating sector.  It was continually implied that jobs in the not-for-profit sector are far more noble than those in the private sector.  In 2009, we seemed to forget completely what brought us to the table of abundance.

This is not to say that charities and not-for-profit organizations don’t have their place.  They serve a valuable purpose in our country, but they don’t replace the jobs and wealth that are created by the free enterprise system.

Take Bill Gates for instance.  Bill Gates is unselfishly pouring a large percentage of his wealth into his foundation to help those in poverty across the world, a mission that is extremely admirable and commendable.  Regardless of what he accomplishes in his foundation however, it won’t hold a candle to his effect on the world steering the ship of Microsoft for three decades. 

Bill Gates created millions of well paying jobs across the world, allowing those people to make the kind of income that can soundly support a family.  He created hundreds of billions of dollars in wealth for investors on a global basis, solidifying their retirement accounts and pensions.  His computer and software products provided the tools necessary for millions of Americans to pursue their dreams of opening their own business or consulting firm.  Governments across the world brought in huge amounts of tax dollars from the revenue streams generated through Microsoft, which hopefully went to build valuable infrastructure projects and economic safety net programs.  Compared to what he contributed to the world through the private sector, his accomplishments through his charitable foundation will be a blip at best.

Like the people of Wilmington, Ohio, Americans are discovering that government programs and charity don’t replace the wealth producing private sector that stimulates economies.  That is why in 2010, we need to return to the premise that the person who takes a risk and starts or expands an existing business is noble.  We need to once again look up to these economic stewards and encourage Washington to reward them, not punish them and strangle them with endless red tape and regulations.  Business is not a necessary evil, it is the foundation of economic growth and abundance for all.

So Happy New Year to all of our beloved job-creating business owners.  May 2010 be a banner year for you so that you can help put this country back to work on a long term basis, at no cost to the tax payer. 

And when some lefty liberal looks at your success and demands that you need to “Give Back,” you can think about all the jobs you created, the wealth you created for people, the valuable products or services you provided that helped make the lives of your customers easier, and you can proudly look that lefty fool in the eye and say, “I already did!”  Thank you.

---