Local Business are the economy

We often talk about the economy but the discussions often happen at high level and often hard to understand for many people. People also always like to focus on the big end of town but did you know that well, in Australia. Small business is actually the back bone of many local economies.

In Australia we don't have laws like America that prevent monopolies on news and major shopping centres so a lot of things are distorted. But the majority of our economy. How much? 97% that's how much!

They are also the biggest employers and contributors to tax. But it is the major companies that get away with paying $0 tax here.

Go out of your way to buy local

As many of you know, my partner is voted in twice now as the local councillor and it is only a wage of around AUD 30,000 not enough to live off. But we also both work full time. While you might think it would be a good idea to donate the money to charity, which we do some of it. Aussie charities it has been alleged absorb a lot of the donations in administration costs. Allegedly a lot of it doesn't go to the people it is needed.

So while we do make charitable donations, a large portion of the funds my partner gets we just spend on locally owned businesses. Some do complain and I can understand the perception as many are struggling. But the local mum and dad businesses that is their income and job and they need to sell things to survive.

But you're a politician you get free things

There is truth to that but we always decline, like I said we are both blue collar workers my wife a nurse (I used to be blue collar driving trucks and working in factories. I went to uni late and now work a suite and tie job. But I get it.

The issue is, when a business gives someone something for free, it isn't for free the business is wearing that cost so they're taking less money home. We need these families to prosper and grow and provide jobs for people. That doesn't happen by giving it away for free.

Not to mention we all pay rates and service fees to the council. The money my wife gets is from the fees and rates people pay. While she can't not make them pay it and they are needed, the best she can do is advocate for the best outcomes for them but also spend the money we all pay back in the community so people can feed themselves and raise their families.

It is always wonderful to attend new businesses and coming from a poor background myself as well as my partner, it is hard to explain the feeling in words how it feels to be able to help someone when you know how hard it is.

It's also our home and in our time of need our community is here for us and we are there for them.

What are some of the ways you give back to the community? Do you think it is a good idea or should the money go to charities?