Small Business Owner's Perspective: President Obama's 2011 State of the Union Address Wishlist

I own a small family-operated ranch in central New Mexico. The ranch is too small to support a family, or even an individual, thus we all hold down jobs to support our families. Currently, unemployment, illegal immigration and employment taxes are issues that need to be addressed in President Obama's 2011 State of the Union Address.

Create Job Growth Through Small Business Support

Currently, two of my family members are unemployed. Jobs are scarce in any industry and even harder to find in rural America. Yet, to keep the small ranch going, we do not have the luxury of moving to a bigger city where there may be more potential for employment. I would like President Obama to address how he will focus on job growth in both the construction and the manufacturing industries during his State of the Union Address. In 2011, he needs to pass legislation that encourages business start up and expansion in both rural and urban settings in America. Perhaps then, small family farms will be able to continue to feed the nation with their hard work and produce.

Help for People at the End of their Unemployment

People who have a decent education and job employment background are over qualified for many positions. Even so, these people want and need to work. Yet employers turn them away in favor of someone with fewer qualifications. This has led to people being forced to move in with other family members and increased depression and a loss of self-worth. President Obama needs to focus on these unemployed professionals by offering employment incentives to businesses who hire. Job credits and tax breaks for small businesses who expand should be areas he focuses on during 2011.

Illegal immigration

When jobs that "nobody else would want" are being filled by illegal immigrants, those that are here legally or are US citizens are left out in the cold. Illegal immigrants believe they have the right to free health care, driver's licenses, and work. President Obama should take a hard stance against supporting illegal immigrants during his address. In 2011, he needs to urge congress to take care of our own citizens before we take care of those that are here illegally.

Bring back 'Buy American'

America needs to become a world leader in manufacturing. America is rapidly becoming a service oriented job market with little to no manufacturing jobs available. President Obama should encourage Americans to "Buy American" during his 2011 address and to chastise companies that take jobs overseas. In 2011, he could provide credits to Americans who purchase items that are Made in America and to enforce that the Federal Government, the largest consumer of goods in America, does the same. Encourage business to stay local and hire people. We cannot all be in the service industry. We need manufacturing and construction jobs to prosper as well. If people do not work, they cannot afford to buy anything and there go your service jobs as well. It is a vicious circle and something has to stop.

Social Security and the Elderly

For two years in a row, Social Security recipients have had no cost of living raises. Yet, sky rocketing grocery prices, the anticipated gasoline price of $5 a gallon, and health insurance premiums have taken its toll and our elderly are literally starving. I would like to see President Obama address how Social Security can be fixed so that those who are receiving benefits will be able to afford to buy a gallon of milk or pay for their health care. I would like to see President Obama take the drastic steps in 2011 that are necessary to shore up the Social Security system so that when I retire there will be a reward for my hard work and all the money that I have been literally forced to invest into the program.

These are the things I want to hear President Obama touch upon during his 2011 State of the Union Address. The Federal government may not be able to fix all of these problems in the upcoming year, but they do need to acknowledge that these problems exist and will only continue to degrade families and small business. A single small business may not be as important as one large business when it comes to employing a number of people. However, there are many more small businesses than there are large businesses. A business has to start somewhere to become a big business.