Distribute my work ethic, not my wealth

It’s apparent the mainstream media along with President Obama’s administration are trying to convince American voters the now infamous comment “You didn’t build that” was taken out of context.

Regardless, the meaning of the comment is as clear now as it was when it first was heard.

Let’s take a step back though.

According to the principle in President Obama’s quote, the disingenuous folly attributed Mitt Romney and Bain Capital must be therefore shouldered by all levels of educators and infrastructure builders. Without input by teachers and the means to disburse ideas and commodities, businesses like Bain would never be able to flourish.

However, alternative asset management and financial services company’s abound in this great country. They specialize in private equity, venture capital, credit and public market investments. They invest across a broad range of industry sectors and geographic regions.

Looking at any of the multitude of investment companies, stories of both success and failure abound. However, many of the businesses in operation today owe their success to investment companies for either getting their dream off the ground, or saving their dream from certain failure.

Every business was built because an entrepreneur saw need or desire for a product, which germinated an idea, developing into a plan. Yet, many people think of an idea that never goes further than a thought.

What differentiates an entrepreneur is pursuing their dream, heedless of the sacrifices taken to make their dreams come true. As Americans, we all have access to education. We all have access to infrastructure. It’s the risk — the time and money applied to a dream that separates entrepreneurs. With a lot of hard work, some ventures succeed alone.

But for others, costs can be exorbitant. Oftentimes, financial assistance results in seeking investors, or investors see a good idea and pursue enhancing it.

A company like Bain Capital becomes the difference between success and failure.

If President Obama and the mainstream media’s assertion that government enables success were true, every American would be a successful entrepreneur. Each of us has access to education and the infrastructure that moves America.

Success is attained because of the person who built their success … and all the sacrifices made to attain their goal.

Working hard to make this idea a reality is what it takes to reach that goal. Since when is success not a good thing in America? Perhaps what needs to be distributed is their work ethic, not their wealth.

Keith Best is a member of the executive board of the Republican Party of Waukesha County.

Tags: opinion, commentary, money, business