Mar 31, 2009

Firing Outrage

I had to catch it twice on the tube before I was sure I heard it correctly. And sure enough, there was Republican (i.e. Minority) leader John Boehner complaining about President Obama forcing the head of GM to resign: "I think the idea of the government telling anyone in the private sector who they'll employ and who they won't is deplorable" Uh, is that the same "private sector" that's taking billions of dollars from taxpayers pockets (OK, from the pockets of taxpayers' grandchildren)? Agree or disagree with the "bailout" of the auto industry, aren't all bets off once they cash the check? And I suppose those laws against employment discrimination should be tossed as well, since we wouldn't want the government telling the Private sector... The Wall Street Journal reports on the reaction of other CEO's to the White House pressure.
Posted by at

3 comments:

  1. williakzTuesday, March 31, 2009 11:22:00 PM

    Tim,

    You are missing a couple important points. It is the government going into business, not the other way around. It is incumbent on the government to operate that business according to the rules of business, not those of politics. Should the government fail to so act, as it appears doomed to do, the rest of the business world - the competition - will eat the hybrid's lunch.

    The government, for example, will not be able to attract and retain the top talent - its competition will. The government will not be able to act against its political interests in favor of its new business obligations - its competition will. Finally, the government will not have the discipline of the market to guide its financial course as there will always be more bailout dollars where the last came from - its competition, without such a crutch will make better, more efficient business decisions.

    The end result of the government running a business in competition with REAL businesses is that our tax dollars will be wasted as the more nimble, better staffed, better led, and better motivated private entities leave the big clunky government business holding the short end of the stick in one deal after another. Note that the recriminations once this death spiral is publicized will only cause more politicization of the business which will stray even further from its purpose.

    The only solutions to this dilemma are for the government to take over the entire industry or for it to retreat in ignominious defeat after taxpaying voters finally get fed up with t/b/m/illions of their hard-earned money wasted.

    williakz

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tim LennoxWednesday, April 01, 2009 7:42:00 AM

    Good Morning!
    Thanks for the comments, but allow two observations if I may. You say "government will not be able to attract and retain top talent", yet in every administration there are examples of truly talented workers who serve in Government in lieu of corporate America. And regarding "the discipline of the market"..where was that discipline in recent years while the stage was being set for the mess we're in, no?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Warm Southern BreezeWednesday, April 01, 2009 5:38:00 PM

    IMO, it's fairly straight forward. Take the money, swallow the string. Jump when told.

    Government money (taxpayer dollar$) has strings attached.

    What's the message to America's CEOs?

    Quitcher' bitchin'!

    If BIG BUSINESS is going to do an Oliver Twist (Please sir, may I have some more?) then by golly, if we're gonna' dish it out, then dance to our tune!

    It oughta' be called "Lessons learned from a Fourth Grader."

    I guess they haven't learned theirs.

    YOU'RE FIRED!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)