Departing from my usual business advice column, today I present a brief “public service announcement.”

Ronald Regan is quoted as saying, “Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.”

I dare say the readership of this publication agrees with that sentiment.

What in the world is going on? You may find yourself asking that question every time you open the newspaper, turn on the television or check your smartphone.

In the opinion of this Insights contributor, businesses succeed the same way individuals succeed.

In the current election season, that means a good corporate citizen should stay informed of the issues affecting its community and encourage its members to participate in the democratic process while respecting the rights, beliefs and opinions of others.

Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights. I didn’t say that, Thomas Jefferson did! On that point, I share his views.

For the Journal’s Onslow County readers, one such opportunity will be the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce’s Forum Onslow.

Two separate moderated candidate discussions will be conducted on Wednesday, Oct. 5 in Jacksonville - one for N.C. House Districts 14, 15 and 16 and the other, for the Onslow County Board of Commissioners. In both instances, the forums will be moderated by my law partner, Jason R. Harris.

Remember, those who would serve as elected officials have the duty, responsibility and ability to affect the environment in which your business is conducted.

One final quote on the subject: “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” - John F. Kennedy.

Keep an eye out for similar candidate events in your locale. Knowledge is power.

Geoff Losee can be reached by visiting www.rountreelosee.com, by email at [email protected] or by calling (910) 763-3404. Rountree Losee LLP has provided a full range of legal services to individuals, families and businesses in North Carolina for over 110 years. As well-recognized leaders in each of the areas in which they practice, the attorneys of Rountree Losee provide clients a wealth of knowledge and experience. In their commitment to provide the highest quality legal service, they handle a wide range of legal issues with creativity, sensitivity and foresight.