Why are small businesses pessimistic about future growth? Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the impact of uncertainty of government policies, federal debt and tax rates on small business optimism.

SBE Council survey shows small businesses are not optimistic about the economy. Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to reveal an SBE Council survey that most small businesses are still pessimistic about the near-term prospects of the economy.

There is a perfect storm of pressure on the middle class. Phil Cioppa joins Jim Blasingame to debate what is causing America's middle class to decline, from Wall Street to government, including the validity of Occupy Wall Street movement.

Are middle class challenges temporary or structural? Phil Cioppa joins Jim Blasingame to discuss what has caused economic and demographic shifts in America over the last several years.

Small businesses are improving, if only slightly. NFIB’s Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to report an increase in capital spending and sales growth, but not borrowing.

We may not like the numbers, but we like the trend. Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to report November’s NFIB Optimism Index indicates a slight uptick in small business optimism, but we still have a long way to go.

How closely connected is the U.S. economy to the EU. Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the different ways the financial crisis in Europe will affect American small businesses.

Are you waiting until the next election to grow your business? Jim Blasingame reveals the results of a Small Business Advocate poll where half of the respondents said they're business plans were on hold until after the 2012 election.

Are EU leaders getting desperate? Chuck Kadlec joins Jim Blasingame to discuss recent changes in policy and practices by European Union leaders in an attempt to pay the bill that is coming due on 60 years of socialism.

Wall Street has benefited from Fed policies, has Main Street? Chuck Kadlec joins Jim Blasingame to talk about recent policies of the Federal Reserve Board and whether Main Street has benefited from them.