What's with this "run government like a business" crap anyways?

[hedgehog]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,"

So the purpose of government is to secure certain rights, including but not limited to , life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

What does this have to do with turning a profit for the owner(s)?

[Enrique]

1. it's from the Bible

remember it was Jesus that said, "Greed is good".

[hedgehog]

6. What is in the Bible is the concept of government setting aside

food during the good years so it can be distributed during bad years. How many state governments looted set-asides to award tax cuts when things were going good, only to find themselves facing deficits now? We get the government we want, and it looks like too many people are still too stupid to realize they're being had.

[Raven]

2. In my experience, the folks who say that can be counted on to

run their businesses into the ground and then blame the government...can be counted on to take advantage of every government program available to the...can be counted on to want something for nothing.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Worked great in Defense under McNamara! Oh, wait, it didn't. nt

[tularetom]

4. Years ago I worked for a municipal government

Our city manager had been to some seminar where he heard an inspirational speaker. So he invited this guy to a big luncheon. All the department heads and city councilors were present.

The guy spoke on the topic of local government. During the course of his remarks he stated "Local government is not supposed to be efficient. It is however supposed to be fair."

At that point three of our councillors got up and walked out. I understand the manger was subsequently admonished in closed session not to "bring anymore commies" to speak at city sponsored gatherings.

[nytemare]

5. Because businesses are run so well lately.

Then, the government would just be a model of efficiency, sort of like all the banks.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. It's the way things were done in the good ol' days of Charles Dickens

Plagues, famine, poor houses, beggars. Arnold lives like he is a king, what the fuck does he really care?

[sandnsea]

8. Like Citi, Lehman, PG&E, Texaco, Conesco,

Enron, Worldcom....

like that??

I think the did. For the last 8 years. That's why the U.S. is bankrupt too.

[timeforpeace]

9. It might refer to businesses closing if they fail. But governments can't do that . And yes, profit

might be part of the saying, not sure.

[hedgehog]

10. WHere I've seen it here in New York is the suggestion that government

must cut back because businesses are cutting back 10 and 15%. If anything, government services are needed more in bad times than in good times!

[Ilsa]

11. Total bullshit. Businesses are for profit. Government is for the benefit of the people.

We certainly didn't do well with that idiot MBA from 2001-2009.

[GreenTea]

12. Incompetent corporations, cut corners, overcharge/collusion, greed is their only motivation, demand

tax cuts, bailouts & subsidies, deregulation to do as they please, bust unions, the workers only united voice against their corporate lobbyist, corporations paying-off & bribing politicians, outsource jobs, cut benefits, steal workers pension, choke out & undersell small businesses, pollute and expect tax payers (us) to pay clean up cost, use their money to buy elections, use far more resources and imperialism to steal more and couldn't care less about their consumers rights, lie, distort & hide the truth. Creating monopolies is their goal and republicans never seen a monopoly they didn't love.

We need health Care with a Public Option for all, NOW!