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Why is the default assumption that these things are rampant in government and wholly absent in the private sector?

leetcrew 6y ago
I think anyone who's had a job must realize that some waste goes on in the private sector. but a business that wastes more than it profits will eventually be sold for parts. a government isn't subject to the same constraints and can raise taxes or print money for a long time to paper over the rot. there's also the argument that it's worse for a government to waste money than it is for a business. if someone runs their own business inefficiently, they are just wasting their own money. if the executives run a publicly-traded business inefficiently, this is a bit worse as they are wasting the shareholders' money. but an inefficient government is wasting everyone's money that they are compelled to contribute.
- minikites 6y ago
  I disagree with every premise of your argument so I'm not sure if we're just going to talk past each other, but overall I could not disagree more: >a business that wastes more than it profits will eventually be sold for parts How many startups linked on this very site throw VC money into furnaces and have nothing to show for it (not even parts) after a few years? Where did all the Yik Yak money go? >a government isn't subject to the same constraints and can raise taxes or print money for a long time to paper over the rot Overall that may be true but individual departments and programs are certainly subject to those constraints. >an inefficient government is wasting everyone's money that they are compelled to contribute I'm not thrilled about the billions that have been wasted developing the F-35 but that's exactly how representative government works. I don't get a vote in the decisions of Google or Apple.
fennecfoxen 6y ago
In this case, it is no particular assumption, but merely the parent comment celebrating public-sector waste.
- minikites 6y ago
  That's an incredibly uncharitable way of reading my comment and I think you know it.
  - fennecfoxen 6y ago
    i'm really not clear what you're alleging and how you're alleging it

I think anyone who's had a job must realize that some waste goes on in the private sector. but a business that wastes more than it profits will eventually be sold for parts. a government isn't subject to the same constraints and can raise taxes or print money for a long time to paper over the rot. there's also the argument that it's worse for a government to waste money than it is for a business. if someone runs their own business inefficiently, they are just wasting their own money. if the executives run a publicly-traded business inefficiently, this is a bit worse as they are wasting the shareholders' money. but an inefficient government is wasting everyone's money that they are compelled to contribute.

minikites 6y ago
I disagree with every premise of your argument so I'm not sure if we're just going to talk past each other, but overall I could not disagree more: >a business that wastes more than it profits will eventually be sold for parts How many startups linked on this very site throw VC money into furnaces and have nothing to show for it (not even parts) after a few years? Where did all the Yik Yak money go? >a government isn't subject to the same constraints and can raise taxes or print money for a long time to paper over the rot Overall that may be true but individual departments and programs are certainly subject to those constraints. >an inefficient government is wasting everyone's money that they are compelled to contribute I'm not thrilled about the billions that have been wasted developing the F-35 but that's exactly how representative government works. I don't get a vote in the decisions of Google or Apple.

fennecfoxen 6y ago

In this case, it is no particular assumption, but merely the parent comment celebrating public-sector waste.

minikites 6y ago
That's an incredibly uncharitable way of reading my comment and I think you know it.
- fennecfoxen 6y ago
  i'm really not clear what you're alleging and how you're alleging it