Business versus Government

Conservatives during the nineties succeeded by pointing out the inefficiencies of government. They insisted that the bureaucratic model was inefficient because the people involved were ultimately concerned for their own security and the stability of their jobs. They were unwilling to examine their own methods of operation for fear of innovation. Against this argument the American entrepreneur was upheld. He took risk. He was willing to engage in innovation for the purpose of realizing economic growth and efficiency. He earned his high salary and special perks because he placed himself in jeopardy with his risk-taking.

The business collapses of 2002 should have dispelled this myth forever. Entrepreneurs were themselves risk-adverse. They protected their incomes foremostly. As a consequence they businesses suffered. Were these isolated cases? It would seem that, with the collapse of the American Airlines agreement with the flight attendants (usually a conservative and loyal union), these types of practices are alive and well. The heads of business are themselves unwilling to examine and rationalize their own practices, that they are concerned with their security above all else (and they would rather retire than try to help out a sick business.)

What should this say about the business versus government debate? One should not be the model for the other. Yes, business has advantages in some areas because it is concerned with efficiency and economy. However, government works better in other areas where the first goal is completeness. Government should not provide universal health care, nor should it turn over basic health care to private insurance companies. With respect to space exploration, private enterprise has never desired to take the same risks that the government had engaged. The trip to the moon was undertaken at all costs by nationalist zeal. The risks were secondary. If business wanted a hand in space exploration, it could have taken the leading role without special handouts (grants and such) by the government; they are just poor substitutes for bureaucracy