Because I’m a small business owner, Monday I got to sit and have a 40 minute semi-private lunch with Senator John McCain. Senator McCain, four others, and I discussed the systems and the conditions that allow small business to create jobs and wealth. As an owner of multiple businesses for almost 20 years, I found that he clearly understands the issues confronting the economy and small business.

The choice you make this Election Day will have a huge impact upon your next employer and your job. There is the idea out there that says unless you make above $250 thousand Dollars, Senator Obama’s tax plan will not affect you. What is not commonly known is that small business is taxed based on its operating income, not the owner’s take home pay. If you work for, or hope to work for, a business with more than 15 employees, Senator Obama’s tax plan will indeed have a direct personal impact upon you.

Directly, your employer will have significantly less working capital to expand, less capital to give raises and less ability to increase benefits. This means less security for you because like many individuals, businesses are currently struggling. Reducing their cash reserves through higher taxes will slow the healthy businesses and close those employers already suffering from dwindling cash and slumping sales. New employers will have an even higher hurdle to jump.

Against sound economic principles, Senator Obama is proposing a 33% increase in capital gains tax and a 13% increase in income tax. Small business is taxed upon the operating income used to buy equipment and store cash reserves for slow economic periods.

The OECD tracking shows the United States as having the second highest corporate tax in the world. Only Japan is higher and they have announced they are lowering their tax rates. Next year we will be the highest taxed country for employers. Should we further increase our taxes while much of the world is lowering their tax rate in order to attract our jobs?

What impressed me most about my lunch with Senator McCain is his humanity, his tenderness. He was in so many ways, just like me. He repeatedly returned our conversation to those currently in need in this economic downturn. He said we need to sustain a system that creates wealth and yet help those currently suffering in this economic downturn.

Russ Duker

Columbia, Mo.