Ever watch Celebrity Apprentice? Great show because it gives the viewer a chance to see people with great talent for doing one thing try to do another thing for which they have no talent or expertise. Sure, Dennis Rodman is one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, but he stinks at selling cupcakes. Want the very best custom bike money can buy? Call Jesse James. Want the very best marketing plan money can buy? Don’t call Jesse James.
And so it goes with the recent bailouts of banks and AIG by the US Government. Want to build the kind of huge bureaucracy necessary to manage our nation’s defense? Want to build an entire interstate highway system connecting every major city? Call the US Government. Need someone to run a business? Don’t call the US Government. Bad idea, bad idea jeans (you know what that means if you’re a longtime SNL fan).
And so why is all this mess we’re dealing with today a good thing? It’s a good thing because it has clearly shown to every man, woman and child in America that the US Government should not be in the business of business. There could be no clearer evidence of that fact. The other good thing – there is no real partisan winner in this mess. Everyone has to share the blame – a Republican President, a Democrat President, a Democrat (but not filibuster proof) Congress.
With all that said, what should be the US Government’s role in the affairs of private business? Pure and simple – to provide for the minimum amount of regulation necessary for the preservation of transparency in our system, trust in our system, and a level playing field for participants in our system. Winston Churchill said it best – “the problem with socialism is socialism. The problem with capitalism is capitalists”. I am not suggesting that the US Government is not a necessary and vital player in ensuring that private enterprise continues to thrive in this country. Those capitalists Churchill spoke about need rules, they need bright line boundaries. I’m simply suggesting that the US Government sticks to doing what it does best – running businesses isn’t one of those things.
Stay tuned…
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Clint Hauser 03.18.09 at 12:07 pm
I’m 100% in agreement with you on this. My base viewpoint is the Federal Government helps the economy in a direct reverse proposition to how much it interferes in the economy.
Scott Gero 03.19.09 at 9:26 am
You speak the truth. The question I have is that although the AIG situation may present a prime example of how the government should not be in the business of business, will they learn from their mistake? I am afraid that they will not and that they will keep inserting themselves into places they don’t belong. We need for the American people to get off their lazy butts and impress upon their elected leaders to learn from this mistake and stay out of the business of business. We need a change from Apathy to Accountability and we need to convince, teach, and inspire the American Public to voice their opinions and hold our leaders accountable.
Jim Cannata 03.31.09 at 7:28 am
Brilliant! Well said. BTW, Rodman is better at selling cupcakes than Dice.