Should Government Be “Run Like a Business?”

We all remember the Tea Party folks and all those related American voters who said, “Government should be run like a business.” Admittedly, this has a certain appeal.  Until you think about it, that is.

It’s worth going back to what the Founding Fathers had to say about the purpose of government.  Here’s what Thomas Jefferson on the subject: (Government exists) to secure the rights of the people, such as life, liberty, and property, and to prevent tyranny.

The financial aspects of government were of importance over the years, but the concept of profit-making didn’t appear on anyone’s list until the late 20th Century.

Having said this, let’s agree that government should make certain “investments” in the well-being of its people, and education may be chief among these.

No one expects U.S. educational standards to make quantum leaps each year, but we as a nation would be well-served if our children were seen as important “investment opportunities” in our country’s long-term future.