For the average innocent bystander, the levels of political theater surrounding the health care reform effort in Washington are surreal.

That's how it usually is when politics overtake the headlines. The politicians performing in the circus du jour clearly do not share the view of the normal people munching cotton candy on the sidelines.

In fact, it is often during these sorts of times that I hear microbusiness owners saying things like, "Geez. Why don't they just fix it?"

And when they make that stunningly wise observation, they are usually greeted with long-winded explanations about the number of stakeholders involved, and about how each group is applying its own sort of pressure on the relevant lawmakers, and about how everybody's interests must be carefully balanced, and so on.

But, you know, it really doesn't have to be that complicated.

It would be fairly easy for me to make the case that there is no real reason why the interests of the insurance industry should be taken into account.

But then, I have never believed it is incumbent on the U.S. government, when it sets about to address a problem we collectively have, to protect the profits of any sector in the economy. Businesses are supposed to be able to take care of themselves.

At least, that's the way it is with small businesses.

The economy is the other headliner these days, although there isn't much to say. We've seen a few hopeful signs in some of the more recent data, although it is not so much positive data as it is "less negative," as one analyst put it.

They talk about how they're all waiting for small businesses to save the day, just by being our innovative, nimble, creative, growing, job-creating selves. And, evidently unlike giant insurance companies, we don't need any help to do it.

I guess we're just amazing that way.