Government is NOT a business and should not be run like one

[Joe Nation]

Government is about service to the people, all people. If the Trump years have proven nothing else, they have proven that running the government like a business is the quickest route to a bankrupt nation. Financially bankrupt, morally bankrupt, and constitutionally bankrupt. The Republican mantra that good governance can only be achieved through a steely-eyed focus on capitalism and profit has finally been thoroughly debunked.

In the 2024 presidential debates, I want to hear someone ask all of the candidates what government service means to them. How do they plan to serve the American people? That simple question will reveal exactly who they plan to serve.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Historically, some of our worst presidents were former businessmen...

with WHN* at the top of the heap.

*=what's his name

[a kennedy]

2. Makes me sick that the orange piece of shit got to be President just because stupid

people think it can be done, our country being run by a “successful” businessman. Successful my ass.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Those stupid people didn't learn the first time.

They're the same imbeciles who gave us Dumbya, who was also sold to them using the "businessman" nonsense. They either were unaware of, or did not care that he had THREE business failures, which included being unable to find oil in Texas. He fucked up the economy almost as bad as Trump has.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Voters need to look for competent, experienced, educated public servants.

And the office holder should have vision and energy.

Business people don't have the qualifications, nor does someone too young or without sufficient experience.

[unblock]

4. I agree government should be run differently, but Donnie didn't run things like a business

He ran the government like a personal piggie bank. He acted as if he owned it all and could siphon money from the treasury into his personal businesses and bank accounts.

Ok, yeah, some family-run sole proprietorships are run like that, but when people talk about running government like a business, they're usually thinking more about big public companies that have to play by the rules, for the most part.


That said, government is about helping everyone, even (or especially) the people it's "unprofitable" to help. Capitalism inherently involves saying no to some people. If you're helping everyone, it's time to raise prices so you're extracting more profit from most of the people while cutting out some who can no longer afford it.

That's all well and good if you're selling luxury yachts, but not at all good if you're selling, say, a vaccine for a communicable disease.

[In It to Win It]

5. I AGREE! 100%

I hate when people say the government should be ran like a business.

...and Trump is a piss poor example of a businessman. He can barely run his own.