Thread: Should government be "business friendly?" Why?

Should government be business friendly, business neutral, or citizen friendly? In the election campaign (and prior to it) we have heard that the Obama administration is "hostile to business." That they are "not business friendly." Non raised an excellent point, here No longer the land of opportunity, in which he observes that the Fed (as an agent of the government) routinely enacts "business friendly" policies. The question of the Obama administration's position (vis-a-vis business friendliness) seems, to me, to beg the real question: Should the government be "friendly" to the group it is supposed to regulate? As a matter of first principles, shouldn't the government be either pro-citizen (meaninng American human beings rather than persons derived as a legal fiction) or neutral? If the government adopts a "business friendly" tone to its business, isn't it, by definition abdicating its right to act on behalf of the PEOPLE (citizens as defined previously)? Can one be "business friendly" all the time?

This poll is multiple choice because I don't think it's possible to be all one thing, all the time, and have good governance. Please feel free to vote, and if you feel comfortable doing so, enlighten us all as to the reason for your choices. I would ask, however, that bullshit about "Kenyans" and "traitors" not grace this thread with their nonsense. If possible, please stick to the topic at hand and to first principles rather than this particular (or prior) administrations).

The government should do what is best for the country as a whole. Sometimes that would mean being friendly to some industries or individual businesses. Sometimes that would mean cracking down on some businesses if they're engaging in activities that are harmful to the country or individuals.

Originally Posted by trumptman

False dilemma. It doesn't have to be an "or" question.

So your argument is that business interests and the interests of American citizens always perfectly align?

Originally Posted by Babba

The government should do what is best for the country as a whole. Sometimes that would mean being friendly to some industries or individual businesses. Sometimes that would mean cracking down on some businesses if they're engaging in activities that are harmful to the country or individuals.

Does what's best for the country as a whole? Who decides what's best? On what basis?

define what you mean by "business friendly"?

Originally Posted by Cicero

Does what's best for the country as a whole? Who decides what's best? On what basis?

Well, of course whatever is done has to be constitutional, but that has always been a point of debate hasn't it? We have essentially two ideologies, more or less, and each side has different ideas on that. That is essentially what we debate politically in this country. What's best for the country, how we implement our goals and is it constitutional.

Business neutral. It should be neither friendly nor hostile toward business.

jmo

Originally Posted by trumptman

My point is simply what was stated. It doesn't have to be an 'or' choice. They also don't need to perfectly align.

but there is a point of divergence, between what's good for business and what's good for human beings, which creates an inherent "or" scenario. It is, for example, good for business to dispose of the byproducts of manufacturing processes in a manner that generates the least expense. This is not, of necessity, good for human beings in the area that the byproducts are dumped. It's good for business to maximize profits by suppressing wages, minimizing workplace safety, and eliminating a host of costs (in various industries) that interfere with its ability to make a profit. All of these things are bad for human beings/citizens...and so an "or" scenairio arises. This fact would appear to make your post somewhat problematic.

Originally Posted by trumptman

Here's a crazy thought. We could use this thing called representative Democracy.

Is a plebiscite truly practical?