A common refrain these days is that we should run government like a business. Strangely, the folks espousing this idea always seem to believe we should run it like a small, mom-and-pop general store. You know, a skeleton crew surviving with miniscule capital, never borrowing money except when absolutely necessary to get a small business loan to get more inventory or repair a leaky roof, etc.
Last I checked, those small businesses go bankrupt more than Donald Trump.
It seems to me, if you're going to run government like a business, you should run it like a SUCCESSFUL business.
Perfect example: An oil company!
When times get tough, does an oil company lay off thousands of workers? Do they cut salaries and benefits?
Hell no -- THEY RAISE PRICES.
Turmoil in the Middle East? Raise prices!
Oil prices drop? Raise prices anyway!
It's Tuesday? Raise prices!
While they're at it, they squeeze the middlemen -- the gas stations -- as hard as they can to wring every dime possible, and screw the consumer with zero empathy. Just lost your job? Too fucking bad... no mass transit for you!
Hmmm... speaking as a government employee, this is starting to sound like a really good idea...