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The War on Small Business: How the Government Used the Pandemic to Crush the Backbone of America Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 248 ratings

For years, government bureaucrats have been looking for ways to destroy small businesses. With coronavirus, they finally had their chance.

 In 2020, the American economy suffered the biggest financial collapse in history. But while Main Street suffered like never before, the stock market continued to reach new highs. How could this be?The answer is that government had slapped oppressive restrictions on small businesses while propping up Wall Street and engineering a historic consolidation of power and wealth.

This isn’t a new problem. During the last financial crisis, Washington bailed out large banks, saying they were “too big to fail.” When the federal government finally pushed out the CARES Act in 2020, it clearly favored the wealthy and well-connected, showing that small businesses were too small to matter. People across the political spectrum constantly complain about the tyranny of big business, and they’re not wrong. However, too many think government is the solution. In reality, government is the problem.

In The War on Small Business, entrepreneur Carol Roth unveils the many abuses of power inflicted on small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Small business owners were thrown in jail for trying to make a living. Individual rights were discarded. Big government did what it does best—intentionally protect the rich and powerful.

This is the most underreported story coming out of the pandemic. The government chose winners and losers, who would thrive and who would fight to survive, based on not data or science, but based on clout and connections. This enabled the government, with the aid of the Federal Reserve, to oversee the largest wealth transfer in history from Main Street to Wall Street. The issues started long ago and continue today with a highly tilted playing field that favors those “in the club” to the detriment of the average Americans.

This book is about the Davids vs. the Goliaths and the decentralization that can help the small, independent businesses and individuals participate in wealth creation.

If Americans don’t wake up and stop it, politicians will continue to produce policies that intensify their war on small business and individuals and all that stands in the way of centralized power and control. 


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Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the great tragedies of the pandemic is the way it was utilized by governments to crush the dreams of small-business owners, who were treated as selfish afterthoughts by power-hungry politicians. In this book, Carol Roth details just how our political class abandoned small-business owners in favor of cronies. It’s a vital book.” — Ben Shapiro, bestselling author of How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps and The Authoritarian Moment

“For all the pretending that it aims to do the opposite, the government has worked to weaken small business for decades. In retrospect, it should be no great surprise that small businesses bore a disproportionate brunt of the COVID-19 shutdowns. In The War on Small Business, Carol Roth breaks down with agonizing precision how politicians propped up powerful corporations while turning their backs on the little guy.” — Sharyl Attkisson, bestselling author of Slanted

“It’s no secret that the pandemic has left a lasting and devastating impact on small businesses across America. Leave it to Carol Roth to say lots of those businesses didn’t die. They were murdered, by a deliberate and targeted war on their independence and very livelihoods. She lays bare the concerted carving up of our capitalist ideals and free market, meticulously planned, ruthlessly delivered. Be warned, this book is not for the faint of heart, but it is must-reading for those who still have a heart.” — Neil Cavuto, anchor and senior vice president of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network

“In The War on Small Business, Carol Roth exposes how Congress let its desire for central planning and payback for their wealthiest supporters supersede their duty to serve the majority of the US electorate. Those who needed assistance least got more, and those who truly needed help saw their chance at the American Dream vanish as the ‘fourteen days to flatten the curve’ dragged on for nearly a year, closing hundreds of thousands of small businesses forever. It’s a story Stephen King could have written, but it would have been too dark a tale for the horror master.” — Jon Najarian, cofounder of Market Rebellion and CNBC contributor

“Carol Roth is one of the nation’s most thoughtful financial minds. When California passed AB5—the disastrous law that crippled independent contracting and small business—Carol was one of the few national personalities sounding the alarm. Carol doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to the dire situation facing American small businesses and freelancers, but she never fails to add a layer of hope. The American Dream is under duress, but this book shines a light in the dark places that need to be illuminated so that small-business America can start dreaming once more.” — Kira Davis, host of Just Listen to Yourself and editor-at-large of Redstate

“As a restaurant owner, I had a front-row seat to the destruction of small businesses throughout the pandemic. I watched as two sets of rules were doled out—one for massive corporations and a separate, more oppressive set for those struggling ‘mom and pop’s. The War on Small Business is such a valuable read, as Carol Roth gives you an honest and detailed look at how quickly a level playing field can be destroyed as government taints the free market with corporate preference.” — Andrew Gruel, CEO of Slapfish Restaurant Group and television host

About the Author

Carol Roth is a frequent radio, television, and print media contributor on the topics of business and entrepreneurship. She has helped her clients raise more than $1 billion in capital, complete hundreds of millions of dollars in mergers and acquisitions transactions, secure high-profile licensing and partnership deals, and more. She holds a bachelor of science degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08FKGH56T
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Broadside e-books (June 29, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 29, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 248 ratings

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Carol Roth
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SHORT BIO ON CAROL ROTH:

Carol Roth is a "recovering" investment banker, TV pundit and host, and New York Times bestselling author of The Entrepreneur Equation. She has worked in a variety of capacities across industries, including currently as an outsourced CCO, as a director on public and private company boards, and as a strategic advisor. She advocates for small business, small government, and big hair.

Carol has spent more than a dozen years in front of the camera and has developed more than 1,000 pieces of content across a variety of media.

Carol has an action figure/fashion doll made in her likeness and splits her time between Chicago and both coasts with her husband, Kurt.

She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Twitter: @CarolJSRoth

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
248 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting and important. They appreciate the well-researched and insightful information. The slant helps readers understand the plight of small businesses in a post-pandemic world. The writing quality is described as clear and easy to follow, even though some parts are technical.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and important. They say it's a story worth knowing and should be required reading for anyone studying business.

"...This book is a great read that will make you think, and more importantly, really understand the plight of small business in a post-pandemic world." Read more

"This is an important book - one we may be referencing for years. The War on Small Business is meticulously researched and packed with statistics...." Read more

"What an amazing read!..." Read more

"...Overall, this was a pretty interesting book, and although I don't necessarily agree with all of Roth's points, she does make some very convincing..." Read more

10 customers mention "Information quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate the data and arguments presented. The book provides a good overview of the government's takedown of small businesses.

"...The War on Small Business is meticulously researched and packed with statistics...." Read more

"...'s criticisms to be unnecessarily political, but I still appreciated the data she presented and her passion for the subject matter...." Read more

"...Roth details this perfectly and shows how this is not being done accidentally...." Read more

"A well researched depiction of the big government takedown of small businesses via arbitrary mandates & excessive control...." Read more

3 customers mention "Slant"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's stance on small businesses. They find it insightful and say the war on small businesses is real. The book recommends reforms that support the growth of small businesses, which form the backbone of the economy.

"...will make you think, and more importantly, really understand the plight of small business in a post-pandemic world." Read more

"...spark much-needed conversations and reforms that will support the growth of small businesses, which truly form the backbone of America." Read more

"Outstanding book, well written and researched. The war on small business is real, would recommend to anyone." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to follow. They say it's worth reading.

"The topic is pretty technical, but the writing makes it easy to follow. Well worth the time to read!..." Read more

"Outstanding book, well written and researched. The war on small business is real, would recommend to anyone." Read more

"This book was great! Extremely well written and researched - would recommend to anyone!" Read more

The constitution is supposed to limit the powers of government over individuals…
5 out of 5 stars
The constitution is supposed to limit the powers of government over individuals…
What an amazing read! Finally someone who not only speaks for small business but understands not only us, but the overwhelming problem of folks misunderstanding that our constitution is designed to limit the powers of government over people, not to limit the rights of the individual. This is a truly slippery slope we are sliding down right now with these two reversed. Carol lays out the case (with factual citations) for why government is growing bigger and centralizing more and more. Hint: power is seductive. She also covers how this war has been going on for a long time but the covid-19 pandemic just exposed it overnight. The government chose winners and losers in business and small business was the overwhelming loser as measured by the number who were forced to close and never reopened. Many never received a dime of compensation for these forced closings.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2021
    Why does this slightly left-leaning, politically moderate, beard-and-glasses type love this book? Because it is a rare book on a politically charged topic - how government policies destroyed many small businesses during the COVID pandemic - that will make you think rather than just take sides.

    Many of you know Carol as a NY Times bestselling author, former talk host on superstation WGN, and CNBC contributor - and a nationally-known expert on small business. I've known her for a lot longer as a fellow author and speaker, and have always been in awe of her unique gift: her ability to put out strong opinions with research, depth, and intelligence, instead of polarizing and name-calling. This book is a great read that will make you think, and more importantly, really understand the plight of small business in a post-pandemic world.
    23 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2021
    This is an important book - one we may be referencing for years. The War on Small Business is meticulously researched and packed with statistics. Carol Roth has a strong point of view, and even if you don’t agree with her, I promise she will make you think. For 10 years since her national bestseller, The Entrepreneur Equation, Carol Roth has been dedicated to helping small business. I hope this book will spark much-needed conversations and reforms that will support the growth of small businesses, which truly form the backbone of America.
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2021
    What an amazing read! Finally someone who not only speaks for small business but understands not only us, but the overwhelming problem of folks misunderstanding that our constitution is designed to limit the powers of government over people, not to limit the rights of the individual. This is a truly slippery slope we are sliding down right now with these two reversed. Carol lays out the case (with factual citations) for why government is growing bigger and centralizing more and more. Hint: power is seductive. She also covers how this war has been going on for a long time but the covid-19 pandemic just exposed it overnight. The government chose winners and losers in business and small business was the overwhelming loser as measured by the number who were forced to close and never reopened. Many never received a dime of compensation for these forced closings.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    The constitution is supposed to limit the powers of government over individuals…

    Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2021
    What an amazing read! Finally someone who not only speaks for small business but understands not only us, but the overwhelming problem of folks misunderstanding that our constitution is designed to limit the powers of government over people, not to limit the rights of the individual. This is a truly slippery slope we are sliding down right now with these two reversed. Carol lays out the case (with factual citations) for why government is growing bigger and centralizing more and more. Hint: power is seductive. She also covers how this war has been going on for a long time but the covid-19 pandemic just exposed it overnight. The government chose winners and losers in business and small business was the overwhelming loser as measured by the number who were forced to close and never reopened. Many never received a dime of compensation for these forced closings.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    23 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2021
    Carol Roth was recently interviewed by Matt Kohrs about the corruption on Wall Street, and the tactics of naked shorting and using dark pools. She explains some of her allegations of unfairness to retail investors in this book, as well as her contention that the government’s response to to the pandemic was unfair to small business owners.

    There are 13 chapters in the the book, primarily focusing on the government response to the pandemic and the ramifications for small businesses and retail investors. The first chapter identifies some inequalities in which businesses were allowed to stay open during lockdowns. Chapter 2 describes the market response; how some politicians were given insider information about the economic impact of the pandemic early on, and leaked this information to Wall Street allowing for insiders to benefit financially before retail investors had any idea of what was happening.

    Roth goes on to cover the CARES act and assistance that was given to big businesses while small businesses suffered, the Federal Reserve propping up the stock market, and concerns about inflation and future financial crises. She describes her view of capitalism, her definition of cronyism , and the future of world economies and power. At times I found Roth's criticisms to be unnecessarily political, but I still appreciated the data she presented and her passion for the subject matter.

    Overall, this was a pretty interesting book, and although I don't necessarily agree with all of Roth's points, she does make some very convincing arguments. Her insights into the workings of Wall Street in particular are valuable, because of her former career as an investment banker. She has identified some clear issues here, and although many of her conclusions are opinion-based, there is a decent amount of objective information presented as well.
    30 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2021
    If you run a small business it often feels like you are in a war with our government. You spend a too large percentage of your time trying to defend yourself against job and economy killing rules and regulations. Roth details this perfectly and shows how this is not being done accidentally. If you want to know what it is like trying to stay afloat as a small business in America, this book will provide the answers. Should be required reading for anyone studying business.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023
    The topic is pretty technical, but the writing makes it easy to follow.

    Well worth the time to read! I will pass to my friends when I am done.

    I will buy Carol Roth’s next book!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2021
    A well researched depiction of the big government takedown of small businesses via arbitrary mandates & excessive control. This story needs to be told & Carol Roth has nailed it!
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2021
    Only 50 pages in but if you want better ammunition to show that we would have better off if our government federal and local did nothing we would have been much better off
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • JD
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed work
    Reviewed in Canada on August 29, 2021
    Very good - details the attacks versus small business -

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