Our Political Environment: Interview with Matthew Joseff, Independent Candidate for Congress

Following the #swCT event on last Tuesday, Independent Software caught up with Matthew Joseff, candidate of Representative of the Third Congressional District.  Mr. Joseff was able to give us his insight into how he believes the economy can improve and the implications of the election for SMBs (Small &Medium Businesses) and start-ups.

What do you think you can realistically achieve?

Realistically, I believe I can become the next US Representative for Connecticut’s third district.  I served in the US Army National Guard (joined during the first Gulf War), was an NYPD auxiliary officer, and have been a systems administrator and solutions architect for sixteen years.  We have gone from an agricultural society to an industrial one and are now in a post-industrial technology age.  I believe I can help support legislation that enables small and medium sized businesses to flourish.

Realistically, our district is almost half unaffiliated with a political party.  If the voters in November vote their party lines, I will be the next Representative for the third district.

In the list of issues facing CT at the federal level, where does supporting entrepreneurship rank?

Number one.  Our current tax structure is unfairly penalizing small and medium sized businesses.  While those businesses employ more people that all of big business combined in the US.  What’s more, supporting local small businesses not only helps the economy as a whole, but stimulates local economies and helps reduce our carbon footprint.

What do you think should be done to support businesses in Connecticut?

Our SMBs need to be kick-started and allowed to grow.  I would love to see businesses that are started in the next five years be tax exempt for two years.  I would love to see tax breaks for “angel investors” who invest in startups.  I would love to see more SMBs and their owners help take responsibility for their communities to help lower taxes.

What do you consider to be the most important issues for entrepreneurs in the state?

Of course “the economy,” but what does that really mean?  For the entrepreneurs in the state, that means keeping tabs on what the legislatures (state & federal) are doing and staying politically active- even if that just means encouraging your employees to vote.  If there is no incentive for businesses to start and grow it’s because we have become frustrated, passive, and distanced ourselves from our policy and lawmakers.

This also is directly correlated to our educational institutions.  If we don’t have good-paying innovative jobs in our state, our kids won’t know what to major in.  it’s important for our entrepreneurs in the state to invest in R&D, create, and dream to help give the next generation a vision and goal.

We hear a lot of talk about how small businesses is the engine of job growth.  Do you agree?

Yes, many large corporations started out as small businesses, but so have many bankrupt companies.  That’s the nature of the beast; demand may go down or a marketing strategy may fail, but if the ideas and innovations have nowhere to start, then how can they become a reality?  Ideas become reality when action takes place.  If laws stunt action, then our ideas will wither away.

How do you think the Connecticut legislature’s recent Jobs Bill (10-75) will impact small businesses and startups?

I think it will help stimulate them, but perhaps it is too restrictive.  We are in the middle of the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression and our deficit reflects that.  We need a brief window opened to let our entrepreneurs in the state breathe.  Industry has left our state because we have taxed them 200% on labor and materials compared to other states taxing at ~100%, not to mention overseas outsourcing.

You can also visit his Facebook page, or follow his Twitter