Reviving the American Dream

More start-ups mean more jobs - simple as that. But Inc. magazine reports that not nearly enough is being done to encourage those start-ups. It's come up with a 16-step plan:

We are not just talking about the fast-growing "gazelle" companies that expand at double-digit rates -- though we could certainly use more of them. Nor is this solely about sparking, say, a green business boom or the creation of more tech companies or a bunch of cool new iPhone apps -- though we like all of those, too. Instead, what we are seeking is a kind of rebooting of the entrepreneurial ideal -- the notion that starting a company is a viable option for all Americans, regardless of where they come from. This country has long been a haven for entrepreneurs. Ten years into the 21st century, it's time to rethink exactly what that means.

Among the ideas put forth:

--Take entrepreneurship out of the business schools (MBA candidates aren't the only ones who can start a business)

--Tap the best and the brightest wherever They May Be (that means a more liberal immigration policy)

--Teaching kids about starting a business

--Cut college graduates some slack (government should postpone student-loan payments to folks who start businesses)

--Cut the red tape (make it easier for start-ups to get going)

--Grow local investment communities

--Fund big science

The Inc. people figure that their 16 ideas could result in at least 300,000 additional start-ups over the next decade or so. No way of knowing, of course, but many of these suggestions seem both sensible and doable.