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I haven't seen this "run govt like a business" idea outside the U.S (or maybe I just missed it). Biz and govt are two separate things, I don't understand how o

I haven't seen this "run govt like a business" idea outside the U.S (or maybe I just missed it). Biz and govt are two separate things, I don't understand how one can be run like the other. Sure, there are some overlaps, but thats about it. Can someone explain?

asark 8y ago
When invoked by laypersons, it usually means "don't run a deficit at all, and cut 'useless' (to me, so far as I know) programs". Arts funding and foreign aid are popular first candidates for the chopping block. I don't know what it means when politicians say it, aside from being an appeal to the above. Possibly they mean the same thing. [EDIT] incidentally, it's almost entirely associated with the Right. Unusual to see it brought up as a point in favor of a Democrat. [EDIT EDIT] awinder probably nailed what it means when politicians say it, and/or why it's an idea some of them have promoted.
luckydata 8y ago
It's one of the idiotic side effects of unchecked capitalistic culture in the USA mixed with a tinge of anti-intellecutalism and tons of garden variety ignorance and racism. It's codeword for "I don't want my taxes to help folks that don't look like me".
specialist 8y ago
Capitalism is our religion. It’s so much a part of our culture (identity), people aren’t aware of it.
- Gibbon1 8y ago
  People that are heavily corrupted respond to criticism of neoliberalism/capitalism the same way fundamentalists respond to heresy.
awinder 8y ago
One of the major political factions in the US has spent decades at this point deriding career politicians. It's been a decent strategy inside of that faction, but other factions point out that career politicians actually develop tools to get shit done (as any career-minded individual would). So at some point you have to combat the argument that you're running inexperienced individuals vs. experienced individuals, and advancing the argument that "business leadership actually exceeds govt leadership in getting stuff done" is an attempt to turn that weakness into a strength. I'm being charitable that no one actually believes that garbage at it's heart, but the other explanation might be garden-variety insanity.
- mrguyorama 8y ago
  A reminder that the political faction spending decades deriding career politicians is mostly made up of career politicians
fdjlasdfjl 8y ago
Really? Its prevalent in the Anglosphere for sure. Aus, Can, UK conservatives all run on that. Its not designed to work in practice, its just a message like "kitchen table economics." It appeals to people who dislike complexity (so basically everyone). Government functions about the same as large organizations, so in practice its about as useful as suggesting GE should be "run like a business."
rconti 8y ago
In addition to what's been mentioned already, another implication is that _politicians are just in it for themselves_, they just want power. They want to get a cushy government job, they want to give handouts to their friends, they want to give handouts to people to vote for them, by running deficits that a business never could get away with. Sometimes the more businesslike candidates sell themselves as outsiders who know how to get things done, and are already successful, so they're not vying for this job to just collect a paycheck. In theory, at least some of this makes sense. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like businesspeople who have "made enough money" tend to show any desire to rest on their laurels and decide enough is enough. And a businessperson who runs for office is just as likely as anyone else to be running to get power and notoriety. And of course, businesses do well by leveraging debt. And they have handouts and nepotism and corruption.
cbhl 8y ago
Governments can contain businesses, and those businesses should run sort-of like businesses. They should care about customers. Ideally, not at a huge deficit. In Canada, this is called a "crown corporation". Canadian examples include CATSA (like the TSA), CBC (TV network), VIA Rail (like Amtrak), LCBO and Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (provincial monopolies on alcohol and marijuana sales, respectively).

asark 8y ago

When invoked by laypersons, it usually means "don't run a deficit at all, and cut 'useless' (to me, so far as I know) programs". Arts funding and foreign aid are popular first candidates for the chopping block. I don't know what it means when politicians say it, aside from being an appeal to the above. Possibly they mean the same thing. [EDIT] incidentally, it's almost entirely associated with the Right. Unusual to see it brought up as a point in favor of a Democrat. [EDIT EDIT] awinder probably nailed what it means when politicians say it, and/or why it's an idea some of them have promoted.

luckydata 8y ago

It's one of the idiotic side effects of unchecked capitalistic culture in the USA mixed with a tinge of anti-intellecutalism and tons of garden variety ignorance and racism. It's codeword for "I don't want my taxes to help folks that don't look like me".

specialist 8y ago

Capitalism is our religion. It’s so much a part of our culture (identity), people aren’t aware of it.

Gibbon1 8y ago
People that are heavily corrupted respond to criticism of neoliberalism/capitalism the same way fundamentalists respond to heresy.

awinder 8y ago

One of the major political factions in the US has spent decades at this point deriding career politicians. It's been a decent strategy inside of that faction, but other factions point out that career politicians actually develop tools to get shit done (as any career-minded individual would). So at some point you have to combat the argument that you're running inexperienced individuals vs. experienced individuals, and advancing the argument that "business leadership actually exceeds govt leadership in getting stuff done" is an attempt to turn that weakness into a strength. I'm being charitable that no one actually believes that garbage at it's heart, but the other explanation might be garden-variety insanity.

mrguyorama 8y ago
A reminder that the political faction spending decades deriding career politicians is mostly made up of career politicians

fdjlasdfjl 8y ago

Really? Its prevalent in the Anglosphere for sure. Aus, Can, UK conservatives all run on that. Its not designed to work in practice, its just a message like "kitchen table economics." It appeals to people who dislike complexity (so basically everyone). Government functions about the same as large organizations, so in practice its about as useful as suggesting GE should be "run like a business."

rconti 8y ago

In addition to what's been mentioned already, another implication is that _politicians are just in it for themselves_, they just want power. They want to get a cushy government job, they want to give handouts to their friends, they want to give handouts to people to vote for them, by running deficits that a business never could get away with. Sometimes the more businesslike candidates sell themselves as outsiders who know how to get things done, and are already successful, so they're not vying for this job to just collect a paycheck. In theory, at least some of this makes sense. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like businesspeople who have "made enough money" tend to show any desire to rest on their laurels and decide enough is enough. And a businessperson who runs for office is just as likely as anyone else to be running to get power and notoriety. And of course, businesses do well by leveraging debt. And they have handouts and nepotism and corruption.

cbhl 8y ago

Governments can contain businesses, and those businesses should run sort-of like businesses. They should care about customers. Ideally, not at a huge deficit. In Canada, this is called a "crown corporation". Canadian examples include CATSA (like the TSA), CBC (TV network), VIA Rail (like Amtrak), LCBO and Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (provincial monopolies on alcohol and marijuana sales, respectively).