Time to Apply business principles to the bureaucracy

[CNS]

Maybe we should run the govt as a reality show?

If we got all the associated info, I may be fine with this.  I mean, if we knew the details, ramifications, etc, why not let us all vote on it on the reg?  May actually cause some of the apathetic to reengage.  May cause some of the dumb dumbs to get informed.  Either way, it may cause the govt to actually represent their constituents given that there could be constant pressure to do so.   

[Poster formerly known as jthutch]

Does the national debt count as evidence?  Not that the debt itself is some damning thing, but I think it at least shows evidence that the government isn't being run by people who are all that concerned with the state's bottom line.

no, why would it?  if a company had debt, would that be evidence that it is poorly run?

Depends on the debt.  A company takes out loans to increase inventory or build infrastructure that will increase revenue.  Government goes into debt to help pay for things for the citizens without any chance of recouping those costs outside of raising taxes, which I think most of us would agree is the suck.

[sys]

the distinction you are drawing is artificial.  the use of govt debt is usually to generate an economic return for citizens just as the use of corporate debt is to generate an economic return for owners.

[wetwillie]

I think the revenue being less than expenses every year might be a cause for concern

[Phil Titola]

I think the revenue being less than expenses every year might be a cause for concern

Something a good business would recognize and slash income (taxes) to fix!

[sys]

I think the revenue being less than expenses every year might be a cause for concern

it might be, but it wouldn't necessarily be.

[Poster formerly known as jthutch]

the distinction you are drawing is artificial.  the use of govt debt is usually to generate an economic return for citizens just as the use of corporate debt is to generate an economic return for owners.

In theory taxes are paid to cover services to citizens but most of it is to pay salaries to people who are working as hard as possible not to accomplish much (obviously that does not include me or my staff we rock  )

[sys]

most of it is to pay salaries to people who are working as hard as possible not to accomplish much.

i think that's the same in private business.  it certainly is in the company i work for and among the clients of the company that i deal with, most of the time.

[sys]

http://goEMAW.com/forum/index.php?topic=27807.msg1653268#msg1653268


i rest my case.