If government was run as a business

[spookyturtle 9,466]

If the US government was run as as business, to make a profit, not a continuos loss, who do you think would be the most capable CEO? Gates, Buffet, Carlos Ghson? Could it work? Could it help? Thoughts, ideas.......

Edited October 14, 2008 by spookyturtle

[Otto 83]

It's very difficult to run a business that essentially doesn't produce a single product and make a profit.

[Dan J 277]

It's very difficult to run a business that essentially doesn't produce a single product and make a profit.

You could, but i don't think a lot of people would like how it would work.

Essentially everything from roads to police and fire departments would become pay for services. You couldn't walk out your door without paying some kind of fee.

[*JG* 2]

Oprah Winfrey

[rocks 494]

i'm failing to see how it isn't.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

i'm failing to see how it isn't.

It is to a point. Maybe I should have phrased the question differently. What if it was run by businessmen, not politicians? Could Gates or Buffet or one of the like do a better job?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You could, but i don't think a lot of people would like how it would work.

Essentially everything from roads to police and fire departments would become pay for services. You couldn't walk out your door without paying some kind of fee.

You do pay for roads, police, fire etc now. You pay property taxes, sales taxes, tolls, excise tax, gas taxes etc.

[rocks 494]

i'm failing to see how it isn't.

It is to a point. Maybe I should have phrased the question differently. What if it was run by businessmen, not politicians? Could Gates or Buffet or one of the like do a better job?

oh ok.

i'm willing to bet that anyone in big business could do a better job that dubyah.

i'd like to see george clinton as president

[Dan J 277]

You could, but i don't think a lot of people would like how it would work.

Essentially everything from roads to police and fire departments would become pay for services. You couldn't walk out your door without paying some kind of fee.

You do pay for roads, police, fire etc now. You pay property taxes, sales taxes, tolls, excise tax, gas taxes etc.

Right, but what i was pointing out, is that if government were run completely as a business, all services would be pay per use. Not just a few as we have now.

Since the focus would be changing from service oriented to profit oriented, you would likely need competition with those service providers. Making things even more complicated.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You could, but i don't think a lot of people would like how it would work.

Essentially everything from roads to police and fire departments would become pay for services. You couldn't walk out your door without paying some kind of fee.

You do pay for roads, police, fire etc now. You pay property taxes, sales taxes, tolls, excise tax, gas taxes etc.

Right, but what i was pointing out, is that if government were run completely as a business, all services would be pay per use. Not just a few as we have now.

Since the focus would be changing from service oriented to profit oriented, you would likely need competition with those service providers. Making things even more complicated.

What services do we get that are actually free?

[mawilson 2,133]

It's very difficult to run a business that essentially doesn't produce a single product and make a profit.

You could, but i don't think a lot of people would like how it would work.

Essentially everything from roads to police and fire departments would become pay for services. You couldn't walk out your door without paying some kind of fee.

We *are* paying a fee for those services. It's called "Federal Tax".

[Peikko 1,575]

The price of living in a society - oh, but apparantly we don't because living in society is socialism and we all live in Ivory towers (libruls) or castles (RightWingNutters).

[IAMX 3,055]

Eric Schmidt. He knows how to run a business and provide essential care for those under him. Might want to ask how many Google employees are kept healthy, are happy, given incentives (employee discounts [for example, last I checked $5,000 of the $20,000 - $30,000 MSRP paid by Google for a Prius] on hybrids/BEVs/converts) and productive all at the same time. There's something to be said about their privacy issues, however.

[mawilson 2,133]

Right, but what i was pointing out, is that if government were run completely as a business, all services would be pay per use. Not just a few as we have now.

Why? Many businesses provide free services as part of their offering.

[Dan J 277]

It's very difficult to run a business that essentially doesn't produce a single product and make a profit.

You could, but i don't think a lot of people would like how it would work.

Essentially everything from roads to police and fire departments would become pay for services. You couldn't walk out your door without paying some kind of fee.

We *are* paying a fee for those services. It's called "Federal Tax".

Both of you are missing the point. Of course we are paying for these services, but a business can't charge a tax. So instead you will pay for it every time you need it. Want to go to the park, pay a fee, want to use the sidewalk, pay a fee, need police services, pay a fee.

As it is right now. Most government services don't charge for the service up front as its already paid for with taxes, that would not be the case if it was run as a business.