All this talk from Gov. Romney about how he can directly apply the skills he acquired at Bain Capital in creating 100,000+ jobs reminds me of the hubris exhibited by Robert McNamara in the 1960s and our first MBA President, Bush II and the horrors their policies inflicted on the world.
Romney actually combines the worst traits of McNamara and Bush. McNamara and Romney differ from Bush in that they both had a record of success in the private sector that elevated their sense of confidence. Romney sounds as if he actually believes that he personally created 100,000+ jobs. Romney and Bush are similar in that they both grew up as sons of privilege yet believe themselves to be self made men. Romney sounds as if he actually believes that growing up as the son of the chairman of AMC and the governor of Michigan gave him no advantages in life.
Regardless, the record of the last 60 years shows that attempting to implement policies and procedures that might have worked in the private sector have had catastrophic consequences when used to implement foreign or domestic policy.
Indeed, the mindset of a private sector tycoon is the opposite of what is needed in government
What venture capitalist invested to create the transcontinental railroad, lay telegraph lines, build the Panama Canal, electrify the Tennessee Valley, send a man to the moon? The venture capitalists were around back then and they shunned the very projects that made the USA the great economic power. Go back even further, venture capitalists could not fund Columbus' voyage in 1492. The risks were too great. Let us be grateful that Queen Isabella did not have the VC mindset of a Gov. Romney.
Private sector experience is equally irrelevant in prosecuting wars. MBAs are taught that any problem can be solved by throwing enough resources. Alas, we learned from Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan that is not always the case.
At, least I hope that the American voter has learned that lesson.