Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

impulsekash t1_j1zkykv wrote

Reply to comment by AwesomeBrainPowers in Winter weather upends water systems across the Deep South by getBusyChild

"running goverment like a business" really means rich people not having to pay taxes.

128

tehmlem t1_j201zy4 wrote

"run the government like a business" You know, where one guy on top reaps a disproportionate amount of the benefits by exploiting the people at the bottom.

44

mcmonties t1_j20510k wrote

Oh, so like a monarchy?

15

tehmlem t1_j20ax8x wrote

No no, a monarch is at least ostensibly accountable to their people. A business can just laugh when people are angry at them.

13

malphonso t1_j21msqt wrote

Yep. Koch Energy may have poisoned rivers repeatedly, lobbied for laws that benefitted them at the expense of workers and citizens, and supported candidates opposed to basic human rights. But, good luck switching to a competitor.

5

TrespasseR_ t1_j1zpvny wrote

Or most businesses, or they cheat claiming far less than what they earn

10

AwesomeBrainPowers t1_j1zvzsm wrote

That's definitely what ends up happening—and it's probably what most politicians who support that slogan actually mean—but there are probably a non-trivial number of people who either only understand that phrase to mean "maximize operational efficiency" (without bothering to really parse what that entails) or genuinely don't understand that government should be a service, not a business.

It's historically laughable and demonstrably false, but I'm sure plenty of people still think that way, somehow.

9

sekirobestiro t1_j20383r wrote

It really means “profits first and all of my contractor buddies get first dibs on all new projects”.

2