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Our Government, Destroyer Of Jobs

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Charles Hugh-Smith of OfTwoMinds blog,

If our government can't destroy all the private-sector jobs directly, it will do so indirectly by borrowing so much money the system collapses.

Conventional economists and pundits are puzzled why jobs growth has been so anemic in this "recovery." Here's one factor they overlook: our government. In theory, our government is supposed to encourage private sector job growth. In reality, all the hundreds of pages of regulations are killing job growth, one small business and one job at a time.

Correspondent/entrepreneur Ray Z. was kind enough to share his experience of trying to open a bagel shop and create six jobs:

"For many years, many of my friends and family who have come to my home and experienced my cooking, have told me that I should "open a restaurant". Of course, I took this with a grain of salt, :0 since many people say this exact phrase, to many other people. There are a lot of people who are able to create very delicious meals.

 

About five years ago, there was a restaurant for sale, not too far from my home and business. I thought about buying the restaurant, but at that time, the economy was not doing well and I wanted to take a wait and see attitude before I committed to anything. Eventually, the restaurant closed down and a different type of business opened up in the space that had been a restaurant. That business went under in the middle of 2014 and I decided it might be time to open a retail food establishment in the space that used to be a restaurant. How hard could it be?

 

I signed a lease with the property owner for his 1000 square foot space. I contracted with a general contractor and designed the restaurant floor space on a CAD program I have on my office machine.

 

Having boot-strapped two seven figure companies from the ground up over the past 25 years, I knew all of the permits needed in order to open a regular business. First, I had to have my attorney file for incorporation in my state. Then, I secured my FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) from the IRS, opened a bank account, got my sales and use tax permit (to collect sales taxes) from the State and contacted the person at the state level who is responsible for food establishments at the state level. The department that handles such things is the Nevada Health Department.

 

The inspector who is responsible for my geographic area (since I live in a sparsely populated county, we don't have a county health department) at the state level told me that since the space had not been a restaurant for a few years, I would need to pay additional fees the first year and my endeavor would be treated as a "new" retail food establishment. The cost was an additional $500, but that's just the way it is. The property already had a grease interceptor (1500 gallons), floor drains, a mop sink, air exchanger on the roof and was mostly plumbed. I'll get back to this later.

 

I submitted plans to the state contact person and was told that my symbology was not standard for the plumbing and electrical. The suggestion was made that I seek the services of an architect. Very well. I did. I found an architect who has done some restaurants in the area and we got to work. I submitted my floor plan to him, which he said was very detailed and seemed to use the space to its maximum potential. However, he did mention that if I were going to serve one single person as a dine-in customer, I would have to have at least one ADA compliant bathroom. The space had two existing bathrooms that were ADA, but not the latest version. So, those would have to be upgraded. Next, he told me that if I served, in-house, I would need to provide two ADA compliant bathrooms. I was going to remove one of the ADA bathrooms, so I could have more seating, but if I had more seating, I would need two bathrooms. Catch-22.

 

My architect submitted to the state for review and was told that I would need to expand the hallway. That means that the current hallway walls would need to be completely gutted, with plumbing removed and drains moved.

 

I guess it really did not matter though, since according to the State of Nevada, I was required to have EIGHT (8) sinks in my 1,000 square foot space. I needed two bathroom sinks (which I had), one dirty sink with three wells, clearly labeled "wash, rinse, sanitize"; this sink needed to have two side-boards of not less than 18 inches etc. I also had to have one prep sink, with a wand facet, one dedicated mop sink, two hand wash stations (that could not be near any other sinks) and a bar sink for smoothies. This meant I had to have an extra floor drain put in, while the others needed to be moved. Great. 8 sinks. Cost to bring the plumbing to code and provide engineered drawings and system? $20-25 thousand.

 

After six revisions to the plans (to make the state happy), I finally gave the plans to a general contractor. He sent it to his electrical and plumbing sub-contractors. They informed the general that due to code issues, they would have to quote an engineered HVAC system that provided balanced air for the replacement needed by the hood exhaust. The hood exhaust would need to be tied into the HVAC, so that my customers would be in an environment that met the state standards for air quality. OK. The plumber also said that I needed a brand new, engineered waste pipe system, one that could only be installed by jack hammering the entire plumbing system, since the state was requiring a detailed drawing of the pipes in the floor, and since it was put in before they had these requirements, they would want it all dug up and put into a plan. Great. Engineered HVAC cost? $40,000 (even though the place seemed to work fine for 25 years with an evaporative cooler and a gas heater).

 

Next, I was told that since I would need a 200 amp electrical service panel (which I knew), the power company would have to replace the transformer on the pole outside, since new construction (the buildings are 30 years old, but hey, it's a restaurant) requires new EPA compliant transformers. The power company fee alone would be 12-15 thousand dollars. Cost to upgrade electrical to code? $20,000, including power company costs to install EPA approved transformer.

 

Next, I was told that I would have to have the gas pipe dug up, jack hammered and replaced with a larger diameter gas line. This would be $20,000 or so dollars. The reason is, of course, that the new code requires a minimum pipe diameter for gas; even though I was only going to have one appliance on gas; the range. Everything else is electric.

 

Keep in mind that all of this was taking time. In point of fact, from the time I signed the lease in late December, until just this past week, I was doing nothing but getting my paperwork ready and trying to comply with government mandates. Essentially, I spent 7 months trying to not only figure out what I needed to do, while I was paying rent and utilities, but I also spent many hours trying to figure out the complexities of what the state required.

 

For instance: Each food establishment is required to have at least one Food Service Handling Manager. Each person who serves or prepares food has to take a Food Handler Course. The manager course is about 500 dollars, when all is said and done. The food handler course is about half of that. This is an annual fee.

 

Aside from what I was being required to do for the construction, the state also required the following:

 

-- A complete list of vendors. Said vendors must be USDA certified wholesale food suppliers. No farmer's markets, supermarket or home grown.

-- A complete menu, listing calories of each ready-made product.

-- A sample of my labels for prepackaged product showing nutritional data, ingredients, warnings about any allergens (peanut etc).

-- My estimate of how many employees I thought I would need (so they can tax me on each employee, annually, something the county does too)

-- Certificates for any employees who would be handling food, including any managers. My Federal EIN and my State tax ID.

-- Complete plans, contractors, amount of estimated business (so they can PRE TAX me on estimated sales taxes)

 

It just goes on and one. The law in Nevada is called the Nevada Revised Statutes, or NRS. The statutes for retail food are about 500 pages thick. That's just the codes that cover food. This does not cover the building, electrical, plumbing and service codes (such as ADA compliance, handicap parking, etc.)

 

So, I quit. They beat me.

 

It always amazes me when politicians use the sound bite of how they will "create jobs". Well, I am an entrepreneur and have created thousands of jobs over the past 25 years. I have also be responsible for over 500 million in savings to my customers over that time period. This means that 500 million dollars of wealth that was saved, could be put into new technologies, new business ventures for into savings.

 

I am a job creator. But here are at least six jobs that I won't be creating.

 

Government is not a creator of jobs. It's a destroyer."

Thank you, Ray, for this detailed account of what creating a job entails in the real world. Government economists, think-tank pundits and Big Media talking heads prattle on about creating jobs, but they have zero experience in creating even one job. Were they pushed away from the state-cartel trough, they would be clueless about how to start, fund, and profitably operate an enterprise that created jobs.

Every statute, code and regulation has a justification. I've sat in on meetings of engineers and government officials tasked with dreaming up "improvements" to the building codes. Cost never comes up, and neither does cost/benefit analysis.

Yes, a hallway that's a few inches wider might be beneficial. But what are the odds of someone losing their life because the hallway only meets previous codes?

Yes, a 1-inch gas line might have some small advantage over a 3/4-inch gas line, but is that advantage worth $20,000 to a small business or its customers?

Government regulation is supposed to address life safety and the exploitation of workers and the public. But unbeknownst to the status quo, it's supposed to do so with an eye on cost-benefits and diminishing returns.

Would the bagel shop have been demonstrably less safe if it had four sinks instead of eight sinks? The irony here in over-regulating small business food establishments is the vast majority of the tainted food scandals originate in the factory-meat processing plants of Big Ag.

The government's solution to absurdly high costs of opening a small business is: borrow more money. Never mind that the benefits of blowing $120,000 are so marginal they cannot even be calculated; we make the rules, you follow them, and if you can't afford to follow the rules, then don't open the business.

This is how you get an economy of bureaucrats justifying their existence with 500-page manuals regulating private enterprise and abandoned Main Streets and malls. The government assumes private enterprise will jump through an endless number of hoops to operate a business, and that there is an endless supply of willing entrepreneurs who will volunteer to put themselves at risk of bankruptcy.

Back in reality, there is not an endless supply of people willing to jump through an insane number of hoops and risk their capital and health on starting a risky enterprise. (Memo to state regulators: unlike your job, every enterprise is risky. It's called capitalism. You can look it up.)

When the costs of starting and operating a business soar, the odds of succeeding drop accordingly.

Guess what, our government: you forgot that ultimately you live off the private sector. Yes, let's pile on another 500 pages of regulations--no problem--nothing could be easier for those in secure jobs funded by taxpayers. But if the private-sector jobs go away, who's left to pay for state employees to shuffle thousands of pages of regulations and enforce countless "improvements"?

There are ways to ensure public safety and make it straightforward to start a business and create jobs. A few cities/counties have one-stop systems where those willing to start a business can get all the permits and paperwork at one counter. Officials actually work with the entrepreneur to figure out how to meet codes or pehaps get a variance to skirt regs that offer little benefit but would kill the business.

Many others have phony facsimiles of one-stop counters, fake props set up for PR purposes. The process isn't really simplifed; nobody cares if you succeed or not; the purpose was to make the local government appear as if it cares. It doesn't.

Government has the answer, of course: just borrow more money from our kids and grandkids. If taxes aren't enough, just borrow more money.

If our government can't destroy all the private-sector jobs directly, it will do so indirectly by borrowing so much money the system collapses. Good job, regulators; forget costs and cost-benefit analyses; go ahead and add another 500 pages of regs without any regard for costs or consequences. We'll all end up paying for your blindness and cupidity.

 

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Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:25 | 6419252 Bryan
Bryan's picture

Has it occurred to anyone yet that the whole worldwide problem with money and economics and whatnot is all somehow manufactured for some kind of purpose?  It just seems to me that world leaders have checked their brains at the door and are thinking using some other organ in their body.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:26 | 6419260 Creepy A. Cracker
Creepy A. Cracker's picture

Words more terrifying by the day:

"We're from the government and we're here to help."

 

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:34 | 6419283 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

No,  They just took the path of least resistance to solve everything along the way

But now they've dug all of us into a huge hole we may not get out of for a very long time.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:39 | 6419304 froze25
froze25's picture

The only thing the Gov't should be doing is providing for businesses is a court system for individuals to settle contract disputes or claims.  Other wise let the buyer beware and let the free market decide if you  are a success or not.  If you get people sick, guess what, word will get out and you will be out of business and sued.  Big Agra always get exempted from the regulations they force on others through lobbying.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:56 | 6419384 drendebe10
drendebe10's picture

"The government is not the solution to our problem. The government is the problem.:  Ronald Reagan, President who cleaned up the mess and repaired the damage left by the second worst democrap president....

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:16 | 6419748 Wary Hanger
Wary Hanger's picture

Who needs a job when you can have an Obamaphone which comes equipped with an APP which pay your gas & mortgage?

~Peggy Joseph

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 20:53 | 6420583 Mr. Ed
Mr. Ed's picture

CHS:  well chosen subject, well thought through and very well written!

Many thumbs up!

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:09 | 6419710 BeerMe
BeerMe's picture

Pertinent point about big ag.  Same goes with big banks, big box stores and so on.  Government destroys job creators while pushing people into big business and government jobs.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 18:24 | 6420205 Abitdodgie
Abitdodgie's picture

Why would you want to start a buisiness when you can work for uncle sugar , get your everything paid for and stay home so you can play golf and go dirt bike rideing all day, there are some people that live in the old America and just will not change there ways, enjoy the colapse.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:43 | 6419326 Bryan
Bryan's picture

I think you are right... the path of lease resistance... the easy road, has led us to this point where it's not so easy any more.  But maybe all along, the self-centered plan was to game the system as much and as long as possible and then pass the turd on to the next generation of politicians.  Let's see... which vices would that be -- pride, envy, gluttony, lust, greed?

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:55 | 6419380 dontgoforit
dontgoforit's picture

NWO founded via Cloward-Piven.  I don't see how anyone comes out on this if the whole freaking freak show falls apart though.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 18:25 | 6420206 robobbob
robobbob's picture

don't worry about "them". the nwo and associates have been building their enclaves and stockpiling like mad. when tshf, they will arise from the ashes smelling like a rose by blaming the failure on "democracy" and the politiicans, and being the only possesors of food and goods they will have legions of the sheeple all too willing to follow them.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:15 | 6419736 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

"...If our government can't destroy all the private-sector jobs directly, it will do so indirectly by borrowing so much money the system collapses..."

Yeah, but the interest rates are really low, so it's cheap to do this. Hell - money is almost free today!

Come on... what government on earth can resist a bargain like that?

Je suis Puerto Rico

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:54 | 6419372 drendebe10
drendebe10's picture

It's the fudgepacker's hopey changey thingee and the thing could givasht as long as it gets to live its celebrity grand imperial golf life style on the backs of US citizen working tax paying serfs and peasants....

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:42 | 6419319 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

"Has it occurred to anyone yet that the whole worldwide problem with money and economics and whatnot is all somehow manufactured for some kind of purpose?"

It's called the NWO (Globalization)

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:46 | 6419623 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

Governments are in collusion with large banks/corporations/insurers.

They are the cartel, the cabal, that punishes and squeezes individuals and small business.

Conservatives get confused because they think their side is for small business, and Progressives get confused because they think government is for the little people.

Governments are bought entities, not representative or political establishments.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:49 | 6419861 sopko16
sopko16's picture

They are just idiots. The whole idea of small groups of "expert" people that will rule (rather than a open market) is a complete sham that flies in the face of what we are even supposed to have/what free market capitalism is. I have known some prople that have similar jobs- they have not checked their brains at the door- they usually basically just don't have to use one.

Oh and basically, if they can live off of what you and your kids make, what should they care at all? I suppose they are intelligent in the sense that they are still getting away with complete garbage here.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 07:31 | 6421570 DavidC
DavidC's picture

Bryan,
You mean like their arse?

For the pedants among us, I realise that, strictly speaking, the arse is not an organ!

DavidC

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:25 | 6419258 Bloppy
Bloppy's picture

Federal government at this point is only concerned with self-preservation. Nothing more. The rest of us are expendable.

 

Rick Perry raises much-needed cash, gets heckled

http://tinyurl.com/pnotra7


Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:38 | 6419296 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Self-preservation is always the primary focus within any institution.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 20:33 | 6420538 Raging Debate
Raging Debate's picture

Bloppy - + 1000

I talked a bunch here about NH changing laws and adding gender bias and other equality laws to tax anything with a penis and small business. I moved to Florida, more business friendly. However, still a police state.

I talk to people of all color. Today I was yaking with this black dude here in Fort Myers, arrested for trespassing in a public park past certain hours. He and his woman were drunk and he left so it didnt get physical.

Anyways, he did two days in the can because he didnt pay the fine which he still wind up paying. So he told be he got a bill for $300 bucks last week for his couple days in the can. The Clerk told him this this started a year ago.

So not just Federal Government but many local governments now too in survival mode.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:26 | 6419261 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Government is evil.

We need less evil.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:26 | 6419264 Grandad Grumps
Grandad Grumps's picture

Anything that restricts free trade destroys jobs. Central planning destroys jobs. Regulation destroys jobs. Taxes destroy jobs. Corruption destroys jobs.

Maybe some jobs need to be destroyed, but not the value adding productive jobs that seem to be hardest hit.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:38 | 6419299 Bay of Pigs
Bay of Pigs's picture

Que the trolls to blame "capitalism" and "libertarians" for this mess, and telling us "the government" should "do something" to fix this situation.

We are doomed...

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:41 | 6419315 froze25
froze25's picture

We need more regulation to combat the regulation...

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:18 | 6419498 Tom Servo
Tom Servo's picture

We need an additional layer of government oversight...

 

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 18:39 | 6420235 Miffed Microbio...
Miffed Microbiologist's picture

Of course silly. That creates jobs.

Miffed;-)

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:30 | 6419271 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

This flies directly in the face of what CNBC is telling me so therefore I don't believe it. Unemployment is at 5.3%, thanks to president Obama 5 million Americans who previously weren't covered now have health insurance, more kids have access to college than ever before, and all wrong doers have been rooted out of the system and been held accountable. You're just righting this stuff because you're an Obama hating racist and I think it's despicable. Now if you'll excuse me I have to check the balance of my SNAP card on my free Obamaphone before I head out in my new BMW that I just got thanks to my new sub-prime Obama loan.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:41 | 6419316 SSRI Junkie
SSRI Junkie's picture

"thanks to president Obama 5 million Americans who previously weren't covered now have health insurance"

 

also makes you wonder why there is a need for planned parenthood since everything they do is now covered, except the organ and tissue factory part

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:45 | 6419340 Mike Honcho
Mike Honcho's picture

Because some gran-ma's will only raise so many kids.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:12 | 6419468 flysofree
flysofree's picture

You actually wrote this. What a partisan and economic idiot. Yet somehow government has not prevented millions of illegals of getting jobs in USA nor the black market economies that flourish in low income neighborhoods.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 18:24 | 6420201 HopefulCynical
HopefulCynical's picture

Wow, is your sarcasm meter broken or what? Hellen Keller could read between those lines.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:43 | 6419606 Implied Violins
Implied Violins's picture

BMW? I got a Hummer. Nothing else could seat my twelve (non-working) kids. I'll send you a selfie to show it off after I get my $600 haircut.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:31 | 6419272 Mintcoin
Mintcoin's picture

Minimum wage = jobs outlawed

 

It's that simple

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:33 | 6419277 vq1
vq1's picture

No wonder there are so many tech start-ups. That story is crazy. Starting a restaurant should be one of the easier business endeavors... 

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:40 | 6419291 MasterControl
MasterControl's picture

The weather underground would be proud.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:21 | 6419509 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

Yep, they got their clown muslim fairy in the White House and the re-education camps are ready for business. Are you a "die hard capitalist"? Sorry comrade, no room for you in our world of inclusion.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMIwziGrAQ

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:53 | 6419638 Implied Violins
Implied Violins's picture

Shit, I hadn't seen that. The treason, it runs deep, don't it? Now I see why they are pushing so hard setting fires and destroying rivers and aquifers etc.: they want to make us move into their camps. At what point will enough people see it and react en masse? Will it happpen in time to stop it, if it does?

As an aside - one thing I have noticed about the prepper community, which is fairly up on this FEMA camp stuff, is that many of them have never thought out what they would do if the water dried up and/or they got burned out aka the Warsaw Ghetto. It's time to start thinking in those terms, I think, because these bastards will stop at nothing, now.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 17:18 | 6419639 SSRI Junkie
SSRI Junkie's picture

cass sunstein is jubilant

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:37 | 6419292 firstdivision
firstdivision's picture

Actually the US Govenment killed US jobs by allowing such easy movement of capital out of the country. 

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:17 | 6419492 flysofree
flysofree's picture

Finally a poster on ZH who knows his stuff unlike the morons that populate these boards. Who is paying Charles Smoth to write this bullshit? Ah, let me guess, it wouldn't be one of those Economic Right Wing Think Tanks like Americans for Prosperity.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:39 | 6419306 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

"Our government??????"

NFW

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:43 | 6419330 Mike Honcho
Mike Honcho's picture

By design, and it is putrid.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:51 | 6419353 PoasterToaster
PoasterToaster's picture

Jobs are slavery.  We should be moving past them.  They are disappearing for a reason.

Post scarcity is here, and we need to clean house and rid ourselves of the slavemasters.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:09 | 6419708 Apocalicious
Apocalicious's picture

Yep, post scarcity. Move to Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and easily 20 other places I could list, then come and report back to me how free life is. 

 

Ignorant beyond words.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 14:59 | 6419374 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

We're all adapting to the new human domain.

Only a matter of time before the killings become obvious.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:02 | 6419414 Totentänzerlied
Totentänzerlied's picture

Damn Obama for his arrogant refusal to alter thermodynamics!

Americans can and will continue insisting that their make-work labor is not a massively negative-value commodity until the very last last pixel-pusher is forced to choose bonded labor on a non-mechanized dirt farm over starvation.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:10 | 6419461 MaxMax
MaxMax's picture

I recently got permission to put an electrical generator on the roof of my commercial building.  It took two YEARS before I could get my construction permit.  I need complete structural drawings (with detailed backup showing the actual calculations on loads), electrical, plumbing, zoning plans, approval from the utility, approvals from both my local town and regional authority,,,

 

One of the last problems was when I was asked if my building has a fire alarm.  "Of course", I said.  Then, "can the generator power the alarm?"  "Yes", I said.  "The generator can power the whole building."  "Oh," said official, "then you have to have a Life Safety review ."  "But the alarm has a backup battery and the generator just adds redundancy."

Here is  what the guy wrote in an email to me:

Life safety systems are consider as exit and emergency lighting, fire alarm, fire pump, sprinkler system, etc. If the generator is used to power any of these items, then the generator is consider to be supporting life safety components. As such, there are additional requirements associated with a generator that powers any life safety component and this may require additional reviews to be conducted.  Additionally, there is a fire technical application needed for this application and I am to understand has not yet been submitted. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15(a) & N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15(b)5
 
I suggest that your contractor and designer handle these items as they are typically more familiar with the Uniform Construction Code procedures and requirements.

*****************

When I finally got all the plans (stacks!) approved, I dropped them off at my local town building department.  After 3 weeks, stopped by to see what was going on.  They approved them, but weren't bothering to tell me.  They said I needed to pay $150 for a building permit. 

ME:  Can I pay with a credit card?

Them: No.

Me:  Can I pay with cash?

Them: Sadly , Yes.

Me:  Here are two $100 dollar bills.

Them: Sorry, I can't make change.

Me:  OK, here is exactly $150.

Them:  Rolling eyes.

 

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:31 | 6419549 C.A Ahmadine
C.A Ahmadine's picture

At some point, you just stop and focus on not give them a nickel and just enjoy your time...tax free.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:16 | 6419752 A_latvian
A_latvian's picture

Again: are you white?

There's yer problem.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 17:42 | 6420086 BigStupid
BigStupid's picture

On part of your post I agree: Paperwork is a nightmare dealing with modifying any system that supports life safety, and electrical systems in general. Bureaucracy moves slowly, but keep harassing them and they'll move you along just to get you out of their hair.

That being said, putting a generator on the roof - yes structural drawings are a must; not only do generators weigh (literally) tonnes, but the vibration from a poorly placed generator (or even HVAC unit) can cause structural problems that can lead to a critical failure.

Having worked on a number of life safety systems (from simple single stage fire alarm to full blown two stage multi-zone with backup generators, fire pump supported sprinkler systems, heat, flame and smoke detectors, multiple annunciator panels, redundant outside comm connections) and seen what can happen when a system isn't properly commissioned (trouble alarm triggers generator, poorly wired transfer system fries itself and pump motor, blows up battery backup), life safety regs are actually important.

If this was a personal residence, i'd say go ahead and take the risk for yourself - it only affects you. For a commercial building, unless you're willing to accept all liability for all possible occupants (who you'd tell you put in a scabby system before they sign a lease) and their property (maintaining the insurance to cover the loss and not be a deadbeat bankrupt), suck it up and make sure your system is up to code.

One of the biggest piss-offs you can deal with on a project are cheap-ass owners who want the world and think they can figure out how to setup a system the 'easy (read cheap) way'. Some of the dumber shit I've heard includes:

Owner: "Why do i need a transfer system, just back-feed through a breaker to the panel"

Me: "Because when the grid looses power and utility workers are trying to isolate a section for work you'll kill someone when your genset starts up."

Owner: "Why do I need a new panel, the old one works fine"

Me: "Because the added load you've requested pushes the building total beyond this one's capacity, the 60A panel might work for your 150A of load, but will fail spectacularly at some point and could kill someone"

Owner: "Why do I need to pay for a ground-fault breaker for my hot tub? The one I got from buddy is the same size at 1/10 the price"

Me: "Because the GFI breaker will interrupt the load when you have minimal current leakage to ground, the regular one requires rated amperage to be exceeded to trip. (the smallest commercial breaker is 15A, 300x the .05A required to kill you)"

Owner: "Why do you need such big wire for this job? I got some wire that fell off a truck, it's only a little smaller"

Me: "Goodbye"

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:11 | 6419463 NorthernPike
NorthernPike's picture

By accident. The job of regulators is to regulate and perpetuate the industry of governance and regulation. The role should be modified to also include de regulation.

My exwife was a divorce lawyer, when we divorced she took the $40K sports car (which I paid for) and  left me the new set of law books (which I also paid for). I read through all the law books, US Law and Commercial Code, it (Law) was the most complex convoluted pile of crap I ever went through.

Government needs to expand by way of hiring one de regulator for each regulator (someone to bend the nail, another to streighten it out). In  this way there can be equal opportunity and justice for all.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:27 | 6419529 C.A Ahmadine
C.A Ahmadine's picture

This article explains the Western economies...withering under big government.

Learn to weazel into government and make money...like the USSR, or just retire to the beach...it is not worth fighting it!

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:29 | 6419537 beercandad
beercandad's picture

Good description of "gubbermint help". I have been there and done that , never again.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:31 | 6419551 flysofree
flysofree's picture

What a load of bullshit. One thing that Las Vegas does not lack is shortage of food places. They're all over the place: shopping center, after shopping center: Pizza, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Cuban, Guatemalan, Mexican, subs, fast food and every corner with a 7-11 serves food--hot dogs, pizza, coffee etc.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 15:35 | 6419574 C.A Ahmadine
C.A Ahmadine's picture

They all have uncles in government or supply money and hookers to the beauocraps...WAKE UP!!

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:07 | 6419696 Apocalicious
Apocalicious's picture

Yep, loads of Chipotles, McDonalds, Chiles, PF Changs, and Applebees. Go try to open a small, sole proprietorship and then report back. I'll hold my breath.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:21 | 6419767 crazybob369
crazybob369's picture

Did you even read the whole article. Where does it say this was in Vegas. Furthermore, he was talking about opening a new business which falls under all kinds of new regulations that old businesses are not required to adhere to (grandfather clauses). Having attempted something similar (in a different state) I can vouch for just about everything he went through, and more. He didn't even touch on the ridiculous Work Comp insurance, liability insurance, Fire Code, and numerous licenses required for any variety of activities (fire permit for shade tarps for a parking lot sale, for instance). Nevermind the hidden regulations that you don't know about, until some inspector from some obscure agency shows up to issue you a fine for non-compliance with some totally inane regualtion.

The whole system is a joke. It is truly amazing that anyone manages to start any type of brick and mortar business. Better off selling your wares on ebay. Although I'm sure heavier regulations on that are coming soon. 

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:06 | 6419690 Apocalicious
Apocalicious's picture

What's even more insidious about regulations is this: the ones that do succeed ignore the regulations and do it anyway, hoping not to get caught. Beyond killing jobs, it rewards a mentality that rules are a technicality to be avoided and punishes those citizens that diligently try to play by them. A society that has created such perverted incentives is one in terminal decline. 

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:13 | 6419733 A_latvian
A_latvian's picture

Are you white?

Well there's yer problem.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:18 | 6419761 Ex Cathedra
Ex Cathedra's picture

More Ayn Rand disinformation. 

Spare us, please.  We've seen these fake stories too often to fall for them.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:01 | 6422637 Countrybunkererd
Countrybunkererd's picture

You are as clueless as they come, you are MDB in drag, or you forgot the /s.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:19 | 6419763 yellowsub
yellowsub's picture

I thought we were to use technologies to better everyone's lives so there woudln't be a need for people to work?  

There should be a human-like droid in every home!  

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:23 | 6419768 RabbitOne
RabbitOne's picture

Society made a simple choice a few years back to change the rules of small business (started two businesses). The old choice was to promote the small business person as a job creator so that a multitude of hard workers got a reasonable small paycheck. Nothing fancy for workers just a steady income. This was important because a small business needs a lot of help during the initial growth period.  Up to ninety percent of small businesses fail trying to get traction. So its critical during this period to keep costs as low as possible. Not anymore...

Then the big government steam roller came along and told small businesses “...were going to be your personnel department and tell you how to run your business with useless regulations...’” What this did was raise wages (minimum)  to unreasonable levels, added costly health care costs day one of the business and strangled small business with idiot regulations. Because of these factors I closed my second business a few years back because the small reward I got was not worth the effort I put into it. I was trying to make an extra dime and they were vilifying me.

The effect of the big government steam roller is everywhere in my area. Some strip malls are half full for miles around in these suburbs. Local office buildings have continuous for rent signs and low occupancy. There will be no big GDP recoveries in the future after recessions. Small businesses will not hire full time like the old days because of the big overhead per employee create by big government. Big government has closed the jobs pipeline with its own stupidity...

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:33 | 6419817 TehGrumpyOldGuy
TehGrumpyOldGuy's picture

Merica! Land of the fee, Home to the tax/debt slave. The nation that has become full on communist/socialist and they don't even know it.

God, Glory and Government, the 3 worst ideas mankind ever came up with next to the "ISM's"

Communism, socialism, progressivism, liberalism, marxism...

 

Keep on voting and paying those taxes to the 2 sides of the same coin, 1 of these days someone might get it right...

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:50 | 6419871 monad
monad's picture

Once is happenstance. Twice is circumstance. Three times is enemy action - A spook

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 16:52 | 6419873 Pancho de Villa
Pancho de Villa's picture

There is a Gran Pendejo, se llama TRUMP. He is The Great White Narcisstic Hope of the Stupidest Motherfuckers that Troll ZH with their Op/Asshole comments! They believe this Pufferfish/Hairpiece Is the Greatest Thing to happen to US "Reality" TV Politics since the Second Coming of Hay-Suess! This Fucking Idiot Genius "KNOWS" how to Create Jobs! Hot Air Creates Jobs!

 

"You'll see Details. But basically I'm telling you I'll just bring them back", says the Pompous Windbag! "Negotiation" Creates Good, Solid, High-Paying Jobs! 

 

All Hail The Great and Mighty Wizard of TRUMP! If Selected as POTUS, HE will "Negotiate" Tens of Millions of Jobs into existence and Bestow them upon the Poor, Ignorant Peasants inhabiting The Greatest Nation in the World's Poor Huddled Masses Yearning to get a job...     you pathetic bums...

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 17:11 | 6419964 Peak Finance
Peak Finance's picture

You are a fool.

Everyone here on ZH knows the elections are rigged. We love The Trump sideshow but at the same time we know that not a single person can fix this mess. It's beyond fixing at this point. I personally just love the "truthiness" that Trump brings to the race and the way he makes the establishment squirm by attacking one of their "protected" clases, the illegals. 

 

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 19:41 | 6420368 Pancho de Villa
Pancho de Villa's picture

Who's the Fool? I have Never watched the Dog and Pony shows. What a Pathetic Waste of time...      The fucking TV Rots your brain, if you have one?          You do have a little one, no?

 

Even when the Highly Esteemed Dr. Ron Paul was running, I just watched the Highlights on Youtube the next day.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 17:33 | 6420054 Duc888
Duc888's picture

Pancho, so far he's asking a few of the more difficult questions and bringing them into the debate.

But of course you like the status quo.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 18:28 | 6420212 Pancho de Villa
Pancho de Villa's picture

Fuck You and your status quo!

 

What does he bring to the Idiots "Debate" Ball?

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 17:21 | 6420003 atthelake
atthelake's picture

Gerald Celente said it best. "When people have nothing to lose, they lose it". The reason no one has started the revolution is because we're not desperate enough, yet. We have too much to lose, for now.

Wed, 08/12/2015 - 17:31 | 6420046 Duc888
Duc888's picture

Produce > private sector
Take, take, take, > Government.

Parasitic relationship. Not symbiotic at all.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:46 | 6420406 honestann
honestann's picture

SHRUG.
SHRUG.
SHRUG.

If you're smart enough to own a business, you should be smart enough to realize you must be absolutely, completely, utterly insane to open a new one in the USSA today.

Retire... and/or get the hell outta dodge.

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