Well, we are already a month into 2012 and as I look into this particular New Year I find that the traditional salutations such as ‘Happy New Year’ and ‘Prosperous New Year’ seem to ring with a hollow sound given all the doom and gloom predictions that we are continually bombarded with through the various forms of media.

I am sure many of us have been bemused with particular reference to the draconian situation that Greece finds itself in whilst others might feel that it is all their own fault when we start hearing some of the details of how they have arrived at their current situation.

Last year, whilst reporting on the Greek affair the Telegraph described how ‘tax evasion is a way of life in an economy with abuses, discrimination and corruption, but changes, habits and culture represents one of the biggest headaches for a government trying to climb a financial Olympus in flipflops’.

But the sobering thought is that to one extent or another most of the European countries (the UK included) are at present heading in the same direction- not necessarily in terms of ‘abuses, discrimination and corruption’ but concerning legislation.

One aspect of the telegraph comment that deserves further attention is that of ‘habits and culture’ and a current trend that runs through most cultures of today, is that of the focus and priority on ‘me’, the individual, my rights and what I might deserve- increasingly at the expense of everything around us.

The private sector is being expected to be the primary driver for to lift our economy out of the doldrums, but both they and the public sector are being hamstrung by the increasing burden of legislation concerning the individual’s rights seemingly without any apparent regard for financial and viability principles. As a result it is increasingly difficult, especially for small and medium sized enterprises in this economic climate to be viably active and profitable. Essentially the bottom line is that we will only be able to lift ourselves out of the current black hole by way of profitable business generation and the enabling of investment, employment and progression.

Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry provides leadership to the business community within the City of Plymouth and would welcome your views as to how the present Government can help them to survive and even prosper in these challenging times.

Chamber Matters

The 'Chamber Matters' Column features every Tuesday in the Business Section of The Herald.