Government isn’t a Business

Political candidates frequently talk about their business experience and the need to bring business principles to government. Government, they tell us, needs to operate more like a business. But government isn’t a business, and it can’t operate like one.

Businesses operate on the principle of voluntary trade. They produce a product or service and offer it to buyers. And buyers are free to accept or reject that offer.

Government is an agency of force. Everything it does is ultimately backed by the use of force. If you act contrary to the decrees of government officials, eventually someone with a gun will show up.

Businesses produce and trade values–the things that we want and need. Businesses provide us with the values that make our lives better.

Government does not produce values. A proper government protects our freedom to create, trade, and use values. This does not mean that government isn’t a value. It is. But the value that it offers is the protection of our freedom.

Unfortunately, the government all too often does operate like a business. It offers goods and services, such as “free” education, protectionist legislation, subsidies, and other forms of cronyism in exchange for political support. Politicians trade favorable legislation for campaign donations and votes.

We really don’t want government operating like a business. We want it to operate like a government and protect our rights. Nothing more and nothing less.