Business Climate

* We applaud Peter King’s Swiftian aim at political leaders’ conviction that impending economic doom results when corporations threaten to leave, or do leave, California (On California, Aug. 24).

History shows that California’s greatness came on the heels of freewheeling entrepreneurs. The energy driving the resurgence of California comes from small, streamlined, growing businesses, just as has historically been the case. The only significant difference is that many of these are mostly owned by women and minorities.

We are the strength of the emerging new economy. Small businesses account for hundreds of thousands of jobs. Combined, we account for more jobs than any other single corporation in this region.

No one wants to lose Taco Bell, or General Motors, or General Dynamics. The pain of their loss is indeed felt, especially by their former employees and surrounding communities. But we are not going to crumble when large corporations make shortsighted decisions to leave our demanding business climate. California is the future of this country. All of our problems eventually will find their way to Texas. Or Idaho. Or Spokane. None of our strength, however, will leave.

For all businesses, leaving California means leaving one of the most skilled and highly educated work forces in the country, a university system that feeds the work force and resource support from high-tech companies that rival any region. Leaving California also means leaving any connection to overseas expansion. No other region in this country has the immigrant strength that we have. Many of our immigrant-owned businesses have ties to their overseas homelands with ready markets for U.S. goods and services.

Instead of focusing on an admittedly dysfunctional tax system, responsible business leaders should be looking at how to restructure it so it serves us better. Instead of focusing on diversity and immigration as a threat, responsible business leaders should focus on solving our legitimate immigration problems, while taking advantage of the international markets which exist within California. Instead of complaining about how bad our educational system is, responsible business leaders should ensure that it maintains our competitive edge.

ERROL SMITH

SYDNEY WEISMAN

Co-Chairs, New Vision Business Council

Glendale