Over a professional lifetime in the Navy and the private sector, no spoken words ever caused greater concern than “We’re from the government – We’re here to help.” Those simple words could reduce even the most dedicated and experienced of professionals to quivering masses of Jell-O. In almost every instance, the recipient could only hope that the disaster to be visited upon them by individuals with no vested interest in the final outcome would be both survivable and correctable. It appears that even today, when government shows up to help, only the most sturdy and steadfast will survive. If you question how government “help” might be so calamitous and disastrous for the recipient, take a look at a few recent examples on the local scene.

Once upon a time there was a marina on the shores of the Hood Canal at Seabeck. Over time, it became more and more run down and eventually closed. Although Seabeck is part of the Port of Bremerton, the port district had no interest in resurrecting a new marina. After all, district tax dollars were building a new marina in Bremerton (adjacent to the nice new condominium project). So along come a few interested private sector fellows who said “let us rebuild the Seabeck marina.” After addressing the rules, regulations, requirements, and demands of not fewer than four government jurisdictions and spending a lot of money in the process, the permits were issued. The work to remove and replace pilings, essential to any marina, was limited to a few open periods in the year. With that in mind, the developers placed contracts, built schedules and began the effort. No sooner did they get started than another government office stepped in to “help.” It seems there were problems with a lease, the same lease that was running out while government took its merry time to approve all the permits. The government allowed that corrective action might take up to a year. The problem was resolved and work allowed to resume after a short but costly delay. I can only imagine that the developers are anxiously looking forward to the next time the government tries to help.

The federal Department of Labor has decided that a number of forms required to be submitted by business must now be submitted electronically. The edict will require any business with a pension plan or 401k to acquire internet access and have email capability. That many small businesses do not have or use internet access does not appear to be a factor. Going “paperless” is supposed to help business no matter how much it hurts. DOL can further “help” bring businesses into the electronic age by dumping a $15,000 fine on the businesses that do not comply. How much more “help” can small businesses stand?

A couple of months ago, the county was ecstatic with the potential location of a new business to build security devices in North Kitsap. The company had qualified for a federal grant (really a loan) to start up the manufacturing business. Apparently, after looking at some audit results, the county is having second thoughts about becoming guarantor of that federal loan. The end result is that the business is now held in limbo while the county does home work that should have been done up front before the initial celebration. The county, probably feeling burned as a co-signer on loans following the Housing Authority fiasco, has gotten cold feet. The same county that “found” a million dollars to support a new YMCA is now having problems with an opportunity for economic development and jobs. It may all work out in the end but at substantial added cost to the business and loss of private sector jobs. If Kitsap decides the venture is too risky, the business will go to King County and take the jobs and tax revenues with them. Government gets to “help” all of us.

In the current economic environment of tight money, belt tightening by every business, and working harder and smarter to keep businesses alive, I guess it is reasonably clear why the last thing any business wants to hear is “We’re from the government —We’re here to help.”