Too often we hear the mantra that, “government should be run like a business.” This conjures up images of government running on a cost-effective basis. Everyone, regardless of party affiliation wants this.
Why do businesses aspire to run on a cost-effective basis? Businesses need to be cost-effective so that they c0mpete with other businesses. There is a problem when this is applied to government, because government does not compete.
Businesses strive to lower cost so that they can make money in the face off competition. Without competition, businesses have no incentive to lower costs. This is one of the main problems with monopolies.
Elected officals and voters too often defer to the business community to judge what is best for the economy. Beware. Businesses exist for one purpose: to make money. Deferring to business in directing government policy can lead to business using government to create a monopoly for itself.
When government gets involved in business, beware of government being used to render the competitive business environment inert. That usually means taxpayers are about to get robbed.
Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to make
a good article… but what can I say… I
procrastinate a whole lot and never manage to get anything
done.