ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 1996 TAG: 9609300003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GERRY BANNAN
IN THIS SEASON of campaign politics, I am disturbed by the re-emergence of a populist sound bite that I believe is inherently dangerous to the ideals upon which this nation was founded. This slogan isn't the property of any one political party, but is used by politicians across a rather wide portion of the political spectrum. The statement is: "If this country was a business, it would be bankrupt!"
While this phrase seems innocent enough on the surface, like all political rhetoric, closer scrutiny needs to be applied. The implication is clear enough: The country should follow the example set by successful businesses so that it would run more efficiently. Unfortunately, no one takes the time to explain to voters just what it would mean if our nation actually took the corporate world as our organizational model.
I'd like to ask these proponents of a businesslike government two questions:
Which successful business do they have in mind for our government to copy? Because as long and hard as one might search, there isn't even one large, successful corporation operating in the world today that's a democracy. No corporation puts major decisions such as layoffs or investment strategies to a one-employee, one-vote referendum. The decision-making process is top-down - in fact, totalitarian. A very small percentage of a company's highest-paid employees - presidents and vice-presidents, along with chairmen and directors - chart the course for the entire organization.
I am not writing to moralize against common business practices. I am just asking if this is really the way we want our government to be run.
How do you fire an American from being an American? A much overlooked aspect of how businesses remain efficient and competitive is the fact that they do their best to keep nonproductive and problem workers off their staff. Corporations have the luxury of being selective in whom they allow into their organization. Our Constitution grants citizenship to all who are born here. Surely, no one is suggesting that young couples submit resumes and applications if they wish to have a child who would be an American citizen.
We expect a company to terminate employees if they are unwilling or incapable of fulfilling their assigned tasks. The same would be true if a worker is constantly in disagreement with the management or denigrates the company's reputation through his words or actions. How should an America, based on the corporate model, terminate its inept, its lazy, its dissenters?
I don't believe any politicians running for office today would advocate a new totalitarian Constitution or the shooting of welfare recipients. My point is: We shouldn't try to make government run like a business because government isn't a business! A business based on efficiency may lead to success, but a government based on efficiency can become a nightmare for its citizens. Look at Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Soviet Union or Mao's China to grasp that truth. In fact, our founding fathers fought a war against a king who ruled them without giving them representation.
The framers of our Constitution knew something that needs to be relearned today: The strength of our freedom actually resides in the government's inefficiency! Our complicated system of checks and balances slows down the governing process. It can be seen as a hindrance to smooth progress, but it allows for many more options and opinions to be considered. This gives the governed more opportunity to influence their government and also binds our government's executive, legislative and judicial branches together in order to keep any one person or group from wielding too much power.
The relationship between the House of Representatives and the Senate, for example, is purposefully inefficient. Unlike the old Soviet Politburo, our Congress wasn't designed to pass legislation with a rubber stamp. It was designed to argue and debate legislation. It is hoped that this allows for the majority view to prevail without completely trampling the minority in the process.
Of course, the system isn't perfect. In the words of Winston Churchill, "Democracy is the worst form of government ... except for all the others." Whatever our varied political leanings, we need to remain vigilant and not allow politicians get away with popular sounding but empty statements. As with this example that likens government to business, such statements can be misleading at best and dangerous at worst.
Gerry Bannan of Roanoke teaches art and art history at Patrick Henry Community College.
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