Is it too little too late to help women entrepreneurs?

Gloria Berthold, Baltimore, MD — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:53:37 GMT

The SBA has effectively killed billions in business opportunities in federal contracts for women business owners. As a business leader and a government contractor, I believe this proposed rule demonstrates that women business owners are not important to this administration nor to the political process. After seven long years waiting to enact the law, this is a drastic step backwards in chipping away at the little progress that women made to gain a mere five percent of federal contracts, while half of all privately held companies have a woman owner. I am embarrassed to be a Republican when things like this happen

Is it too little too late to help women entrepreneurs?

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:54:43 GMT

Public indignation, Congressional ire and Women Business Groups anger are the terms, which have been used to describe the bureaucrats handling of a Congressional directive involving 'women set-asides.'
The actual handling of the case has taken more than seven years to reach this point and the outcome provides a clear indication as to why bureaucrats would be much better off by allowing the involvement of entrepreneurs - in the fashion proposed by the Fairness in Procurement Alliance (FPA) 'umbrella initiative.'

The innovative approach used will help the Federal government effectively and timely meet the Congressional mandate involving all 'procurement set-asides.'

The FPA 'umbrella initiative' would create a 'Small Business Set-Aside Center' to allow entrepreneurs to work side-by-side with bureaucrats - with oversight and transparency - in the handling of programs that affect their livelihood.

The time-frame and methods bureaucrats appear to have chosen to deal with the 'women-set aside directive' next to the delay they allowed (over 10 years) before addressing the legality of the 'FAR exemptions' - which diverted $640 Billion in government contracts, during that time, away from small businesses - are indications that a more efficient and innovative system is in high demand.

When it comes to business issues, bureaucrats' are not as well suited as entrepreneurs to handle solutions that affect the livelihood of a business. There is no urgency; no profit-motive; tons of red tape and a lot of political pressure.

Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, would have a) addressed the issue; b) come up with options; c) tested them; d) secured the go ahead; e) implemented a solution; and e) have it working well within a year or two.

FPA intends to formally unveil its 'umbrella initiative' soon after the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) eliminates -as it is expected - the influence of the FAR Exemptions on the Federal procurement community. Stay tuned for the fireworks!

Is it too little too late to help women entrepreneurs?

scott kirk — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:27:14 GMT

Dr. Warren Farrel discusses the ?? pay gap?? quite thouroughly in his book "why men earn more and what women can do about it"
Men overall sacrifice their health,(Avg.6yr earlier death than women)and time with their famillies in order to provide more money.

Is it too little too late to help women entrepreneurs?

Laura, CB, FL — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:30:51 GMT

Excuse me, Scott, but, every pregnant woman that brings a child to full term risks death and numerous other adverse health impacts. There are also health benefits that may accrue. That is a fact.

Some men do sacrifice health for their family, but, not all men; and the men that do sacrifice their health do not necessarily do so for the benefit of their family's. Some just have bad health habits. That simply is not comparable to the fact that a woman giving birth has placed her life at risk, however, small that risk may be in an individual case.

Some men sacrifice time with their families; some men just do not wish to devote time to their families. Some women sacrifice time with their families, too.

In every job, I have ever had I have had to work overtime at some point. I could have spent that time with my husband or son, too. So, why WAS and IS my salary lower than every man I count as peer in the same field tens of thousands larger than mine?

I chose my career expecting equal treatment. I assure you that women are the first to be laid off, the first to be offered temporary employment and the last to receive raises, whether they ask for them or not.

Dr. Farrel is simply arguing for the status quo under the ill-formed opinion that women are for some reason less deserving of equitable treatment than minorities or the disabled.

Is it too little too late to help women entrepreneurs?

Sharon Wilson — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:21:55 GMT

Laura your argument is right on head and good rebuttal to Scott's comment. Where does this misleading perception that men sacrifice their health in order to make more money for their families. Women work just as hard and even harder and their work doesn't end when they get home!