Government Grief: How to Help Your Small Business Survive Mindless Regulation, Political Corruption, and Red Tape

This book provides an effective antidote to the small business owner’s frustration with government, demonstrating how to cut through regulations, red tape, and political corruption.

Even as the American economy has slumped and every institution-private, municipal, and federal-strives to cut costs, government continues to grow more complex, intrusive, and expensive. Small businesses already bear a disproportionate share of regulatory costs and suffer more than large competitors when corruption distorts local markets. This situation will soon get worse: looming federal health care as well as environmental and financial mandates will push vast new oversight responsibilities into the states-and onto businesses’ backs.

Amy H. Handlin applies her 20 years’ experience in state government and politics to provide this practical, results-oriented guide that teaches how to successfully navigate the jungle of overlapping federal, state, and municipal rules-skills that will become more essential as regulations balloon. Readers will learn how government works, get insight into the mindset of bureaucrats and politicians, and discover specific, nuts-and-bolts strategies for dealing with even the most unwelcoming, recalcitrant, or even dishonest officials.

Provides model advocacy materials

Includes end-of-chapter summaries that reinforce key concepts

Presents vignettes dubbed Tales from the Dark Side that portray the worst in government bungling and help reinforce points in the text

Contains a glossary clarifying common bureaucratic and political jargon