Democratic (socialist/fascist) former senator George S. McGovern, after failing as a small business owner, writes in an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal:

       I … wish that during the years I was in public office, I had had … this firsthand experience about the difficulties business people face every day.  That knowledge would have made me a better U.S. senator and a more understanding presidential contender.

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       … I … lived with [F]ederal, state and local rules that were all passed with the objective of helping employees, protecting the environment, raising tax dollars for schools, protecting our customers from fire hazards, etc.  While I never have doubted the worthiness of any of these goals, the concept that most often eludes legislators is: “Can we make consumers pay the higher prices for the increased operating costs that accompany public regulation and government reporting requirements with reams of red tape.”  It is a simple concern that is nonetheless often ignored by legislators.

       … Every such decision eventually results in job losses for someone.  And often these are the people without the skills to help themselves–the people I’ve spent a lifetime trying to help.

       NOTE: By the time McGovern realized the error of his ways he no longer had the political power to correct the harm he had inflicted on himself and others.

       [restored 2/24/2023]