Help the World's Small Business Owners

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Feb 10, 2006
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I was watching ABC News last night and they had a story about this cool website www.kiva.org. What this website does is facilitate microloans between you and small business people and farmers mostly in the third world. They have also just recently opened it up to help people in the US. I think this is a really cool idea because you get to help people out, but you also get your money repaid eventually. You can lend in 25 dollar increments. Today I lent 25 dollars to this guy in El Salvador who runs an air conditioner repair business and needed new materials to expand his business. Apparently 98% of the loans are paid back in full so it seems pretty safe. I encourage others here to help some deserving people out.

http://www.kiva.org/
 
I will much more readily lend to someone in the US considering the current economic situation, since my tax dollars already get sent all over the fucking world anyway, even to countries I don't want to support.
 
Yeah, I'd much rather help small businesses here since they are struggling the most

Also, I'd be willing to bet some of the money being loaned out is going to fund clandestine drug activity
 
Which is too bad, as I'd been hoping to start a small business soon. I guess I'll wait... Hey cookie, you wanna loan me money for when I start mine too? :heh:
 
Yeah, I'd much rather help small businesses here since they are struggling the most

Do you really think small businesses in THE BEST FUCKING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD are struggling more than small businesses in little shithole countries? Feel free to support American businesses first, but that's a stupid thing to say and I think you know that in hindsight.
 
Do you really think small businesses in THE BEST FUCKING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD are struggling more than small businesses in little shithole countries? Feel free to support American businesses first, but that's a stupid thing to say and I think you know that in hindsight.

Businesses here have to deal with more bullshit regulations than businesses in other countries, so I would agree with Ozzman.

Edit: Not to mention, at our current rate of deficit spending, we will be a shithole country in a few years.
 
Right, that's so much more challenging for a small business than being in a third-world country with barely any transportation and communication infrastructure to market and sell your products.
 
I'm pretty certain you can help out American businesses on that site. my mom's given some people money through that site, and they've paid her back. it's cool and all if you have the cash to spare
 
My father runs a small family business in my home back up north, so I definitely support this. I hadn't heard of it before; it sounds like a good program.
 
Yeah, this is definitely a sweet idea. It's kinda like giving to charity, except without the nagging feeling that your money's just getting pissed down the gutter.
 
What does being "the best country in the world" mean exactly? The U.S. certainly isn't the best run country, not by a long shot. So I'm curious as to what criteria you are using to determine that statement Doders.
 
The US has the #1 GDP in the world (behind the EU) in 2008 according to wikipedia. The gross domestic product is the general bar for how successful a country is and how it's doing. I think we all agree one way or another that the US is not run perfectly, but we're doing okay overall. However, keep in mind, the gdp is the overall output of a country. Doesn't necessarily mean it's the best place for a business. That honor goes to Denmark, Ireland and Finland.

who do you think needs the money more? A small bike shop owner in Liberia or a small bakery in Los Angeles?
 
Right, that's so much more challenging for a small business than being in a third-world country with barely any transportation and communication infrastructure to market and sell your products.
This. I saw a couple people raising money to buy a motorcycle so they could actually get to work.

Some fucker fixing air conditioners in bumfuck Bolivia doesn't affect me at all

America FUCK YEAH
What's eating you?
 
The US has the #1 GDP in the world (behind the EU) in 2008 according to wikipedia. The gross domestic product is the general bar for how successful a country is and how it's doing. I think we all agree one way or another that the US is not run perfectly, but we're doing okay overall. However, keep in mind, the gdp is the overall output of a country. Doesn't necessarily mean it's the best place for a business. That honor goes to Denmark, Ireland and Finland.

who do you think needs the money more? A small bike shop owner in Liberia or a small bakery in Los Angeles?


The problem is the GDP-Debt ratio, and ours is out of control.