QOD

Filed in National by on December 2, 2008

Is it governments job (yes you schmucks in Dover count as government too) to help enhance the profits of business?

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  1. h. says:
    December 2, 2008 at 8:38 am

    What exactly do you mean by “enhancing profits”?

  2. Brian Shields says:
    December 2, 2008 at 9:01 am

    I wouldn’t say “enhance.” I would say “create an environment where business has the ability to thrive if left to their own devices at the same time protecting workers from the dangers of the workplace that may not be known to them.”

  3. Donhusseinsquishviti says:
    December 2, 2008 at 9:02 am

    how come Brian was able to answer the question and you weren’t h?

  4. jason330 says:
    December 2, 2008 at 9:08 am

    Government should be a silent partner providing services that are cost prohibitive for indivual business to provide for themselves, such as reliable power & sewer servuce, police protection and decent transportation infrastructure.

  5. Tom S. says:
    December 2, 2008 at 9:16 am

    No. The government prevents monopolies and enforces transparency and then lets businesses do what they will.

  6. anon says:
    December 2, 2008 at 9:38 am

    No.

    But if you just happen to mistakenly invade a few oil-producing countries, and fly warplanes and missiles all around the shipping lanes, and inflame the locals to drive into tankers and refineries loaded with bombs – and then as a result the price of oil quadruples and all your friends in the oil business make hundreds of billions of dollars –

    … that is just a coincidence.

  7. Unstable Isotope says:
    December 2, 2008 at 10:19 am

    I think government should provide a place where businesses can thrive, like Jason and Brian point out. It’s not the government’s job to pick the winners and losers in the business world.

  8. Tom S. says:
    December 2, 2008 at 11:14 am

    http://www.fee.org/in_brief/default.asp?id=2260

  9. jason330 says:
    December 2, 2008 at 11:32 am

    Why did you link to the inane jabberings of a Hamilton College wingnut who is all hopped up on “Altlas Shrugged?”

  10. X Stryker says:
    December 2, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    The answer is, “if that’s what improves the quality of life for the citizens, then yes.” Promoting tourism and investment is generally taken up by mayors and governors. That’s how they minimize unemployment and maximize revenue (which can in turn be used for to provide better services).

    There are certainly limits, of course, but reducing unemployment is in the public interest. The line must be drawn when business interests conflict with public interests – such as when businesses exploit or discriminate against their employees, swindle their customers, obstruct fair competition, or harm their environment or community. Likewise, governmental support for businesses must not show favoritism or be driven by personal influence (via gifts, kickbacks, connections, investments, etc).

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