NP: Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel I (Rainy Windshield)

The GOP and the right-wing media likes to point out how "uncertainty" is keeping small businesses from hiring in this economy, and then go on to claim that this uncertainty is about regulations and taxes from the current administration. So, what happens when you actually ask small businesses what's holding them back? It's mostly other stuff.

I've seen similar points made before that pointed to uncertainty in demand as a big issue, which comes up later in this particular study. Businesses aren't certain that they have enough customers, but political opportunists have seized on just the first half of that formulation without mentioning the second. Or adding their own ending, knowing that their audience won't challenge it.

Now, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that "canvassing a random sample of small business owners across the nation" is different than conducting a rigorous research study right after I talk about audiences not challenging things they're told, but I do give a bit more credit to news organizations than I do political operatives. Especially if they at least put in the effort to investigate.