My Two Cents
Apparently I should have sharpened my elbows and figured out how to bully my way to the front of the line. Like tens of thousands of other small businesses, I learned Thursday that the newspaper’s application to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Payroll Protection Program (PPP) had not yet been approved before the money ran out.
The SBA gave out $350 billion dollars in forgivable loans in less than two weeks. More loan applications were processed and approved during those 14 days than the SBA had approved in the previous 14 years.
That’s a pretty good indication of the situation many small business owners are facing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some bankers say the PPP needs at least $1 trillion to meet the demand from America’s 30 million small businesses. We hear about bailouts for companies that are deemed “too big to fail,” but this nation’s small businesses employ about half the workforce in this nation. That giant slice of the U.S. economy should be considered too big to fail.
But congress can’t even agree to allocate an additional $250 billion — a quarter of what’s needed — to help employers make payroll, much less what’s actually needed. Both parties are blaming the other and as far as I can tell no one is demonstrating leadership and creating solutions. If you don’t believe me, come down to the office next week and I’ll show you the press releases from our elected officials.
It’s a difficult time for businesses and we deserve results, not passing the blame.
**
Sometimes after another week like this one, we need a good laugh to make ourselves feel better. These dad jokes from Readers Digest may not make you laugh out loud, but maybe you’ll chuckle just a little at the silliness and walk away with a smile.
From Daddy Poppins (@DaddyPoppinsBlg): Why don’t crabs give to charity? Because they’re shellfish.
Triple C (@SydCollado): I got hit in the head with a can of Diet Coke today. Don’t worry, I’m not hurt. It was a soft drink.
C&C Geekcast (@CandCGeekcast): Why do melons have weddings? Because they cantaloupe.
Sam (@EssaiSam): At the restaurant with Dad. Hostess: “Do you have reservations?” Dad: “No. I’m confident I want to eat here.”
Mr. Dunigan (@MrDunigan22): A ham sandwich walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender says, “Sorry we don’t serve food here.”
David F (@DavidFrischling): Why did the man name his dogs Rolex and Timex? Because they were watch dogs.
dadstayedhome (@Dadstayedhome): What’s the difference between a poorly dressed man on a tricycle and a well dressed man on a bicycle? Attire.
Heather (@RedShiningStar): I was addicted to the hokey pokey... But, I turned myself around.
Drew Davis (@Drew_Davis86): What’s the best way to watch a fly fishing tournament? Live stream
Rod M Whitlock (@RodWhitlock): The rotation of earth really makes my day.
Ralph Nelson Willett (@NorthernOvation): Dad: Did you hear about the kidnapping at school? Son: No. What happened? Dad: The teacher woke him up.
Brian Mork (Hermit) (@hermit_hacker): My kid wants to invent a pencil with an eraser on each end, but I just don’t see the point.
Adam Hill (@chilladam): My wife asked me to sync her phone, so I threw it into the ocean. I don’t know why she’s mad at me.
Vince Favreaux (@storyofericnjoe): My friend keeps saying “Cheer up man it could be worse, u could be stuck underground in a hole full of water.” I know he means well.
And last but not least, the grandaddy of all dad jokes...
Dad Jokes (@fatherlyhumor): Son: “Dad, I’m hungry.” Dad: “Hi hungry, I’m Dad.”
Bill Crist is the publisher of The Snyder News. Comments may be emailed to publisher@snyderdailynews.com.