Education, roads and bridges not enough for 200,000 businesses

Fox News:

More than 200,000 small businesses vanished between early 2008 and 2010 -- a period covering the Great Recession and its immediate aftermath -- taking with them in excess of 3 million jobs, according to Census figures which illustrate the depth of the country's economic hole.

Data is only available until 2010, but the U.S. Census Bureau stats reveal a startling slide for America's businesses. While the country boasted 5.14 million firms with up to 99 employees as of March 2008, that number dropped to 4.92 million by March 2010 - representing a loss of roughly 223,800 businesses and 3.1 million workers.

The Obama administration notes that the trend has since reversed, and that the country has seen 28 consecutive months of private-sector job growth.

But a recent slowdown in private-sector hiring has raised questions about the direction and strength of that recovery. And amid an escalating campaign trail battle about President Obama's recent remarks on businesses, a new poll shows American business owners are harboring serious doubts.

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Clearly it was not a lack of infrastructure that caused these businesses to fail. But a hostile business environment also hampered their ability to survive.