Can you run government like a business? If you could, should you?
I think Donald Trump is about to find out the answers to those questions and the people of America will benefit from it.
This idea has been bugging me since I ran for Wyoming governor in 2002. Back then, everyone everywhere seemed to tell me: “No, government is different. You cannot apply business systems to government.”
I did not win my race, so my big ideas did not matter. But Trump did win his race Nov. 4 and he seems bound and determined to change things dramatically in how government functions.
This could be the greatest breath of fresh air ever applied to our government.
And it brings into focus one of the biggest differences between the modern Republican and Democrat parties.
The Democrats started down the road of turning us into a Nanny State during President Barack Obama’s eight years. The last four years under Joe Biden have intensified this process. They seem to want everyone to either work for the government or have much of their economic fortunes tied to government handouts.
California is the poster boy for the Nanny State and that place just does not make any sense any more. Because of its giant size, things that happen in California have outsized significance. We have seen how crazy ideas hatched in Sacramento, especially emphasizing race and gender, have marched across the land. No wonder smart business leaders are fleeing that land of fruits and nuts.
Another big difference is that business relies on making a profit. Government is just the opposite. Often in government, the goal seems to be making sure you spend your budget each year whether what you are spending that money on is needed or not.
Our senior U. S. Sen. John Barrasso has great confidence in Trump. He says: “President Trump knows how to lead successfully — from the boardroom to the Oval Office. President Trump is surrounding himself with a team he trusts. He has made bold choices for his cabinet to carry out his administration’s ambitious agenda. Republicans are a team with a strong leader and a clear mission — getting America back on track.”
Hold Friends Close
I have spent 60 years in private business and have learned a thing or two.
Early on, I learned to get to know my competitors. That quote from the movie “The Godfather” is true when Marlon Brando’s character says: “Hold your friends close. But hold your enemies closer.”
President Obama told Trump that North Korea’s Kim Jong Un was the biggest threat in the world when they met in the White House. Obama had no idea how to contain him.
Trump reached out and sort of made friends with Little Rocketman and that threat was diminished. Just like that. That is what business people do – you analyze your biggest threats and you deal with them.
Another huge threat facing Trump, left over from the Obama years, was ISIS. It took Trump just a few months to eliminate those awful terrorists in Syria.
President Joe Biden totally blew the withdrawal from Afghanistan by deserting that country in a matter of weeks, leaving behind billions of dollars of equipment and possibly the finest air base in the world. Trump would have dealt with that so much differently.
And finally, just about everybody realizes that President Vladimir Putin of Russia would never have invaded Ukraine if Trump was president. Putin saw Biden for what he was – timid, old, and indecisive – and he invaded. Now we are billions of dollars into that three-year old war. What a waste. And what a horrible loss of life.
Musk, Vivek And DOGE
Putting Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency is a master stroke by Trump.
He wants to curtail what is the known as the Deep State – those hundreds of thousands of government employees, who actually run things.
At this point, I should point that I have known hundreds of outstanding government employees. Especially here in Wyoming, they work hard and do their jobs. But elsewhere, not so.
Business and government are different animals but perhaps it is time to try a new approach. Otherwise, our bureaucracy will end up permanently in control.
My favorite story about these differences is about two guys who were neighbors with each other. Each arrived home from a day at their offices.
The government guy told his wife he had had a “great day at work.” We had “all these great meetings. It was swell.”
The business guy complained to his wife that his “day was awful.” He said “it seemed like all we did was have meetings. We didn’t get anything done.”
Yup. There is a difference.
