This text is expected in the State of the Union address: To make our economy stronger and more competitive, America must reward, not punish, the efforts and dreams of entrepreneurs. Small business is the path of advancement, especially for women and minorities, so we must free small businesses from needless regulation and protect honest job-creators from junk lawsuits. The "junk lawsuit" bit is outside the purview of this blog (but those interested in the topic might consider reading this insightful report that exposes the real truth behind the "junk lawsuit" claim... that most suits are actually filed by corporate special interests). Of interest here is that the White House is trotting out the old saw about "small" businesses... claiming that the economy will be aided by making it easier for small business to pollute, harm us in the workplace, etc. "Small business" conjures up the romantic image of the mom-and-pop storefront, but the truth is that small business isn't so small after all. Instead, it's a hook that gives corporate special interests special advantages in the regulatory process. That "needless" regulation? Those are the protections that make your air easier to breathe, that make your water safe to drink, that make your workplace safe enough that you don't have to worry every day about possible death and dismemberment, that make your jobs accomodate your family life so that you won't be fired just because you have to take time to tend to a sick child, that make sure the toys you buy don't kill your children.... That economic "burden"? It spreads the cost of preventing harm across society, so that innocent victims of what would otherwise be a harmful world don't have to bear the human and financial costs of catastrophic consequences.