But there’s a deeper problem in the whole notion that what this nation needs is a successful businessman as president: America is not, in fact, a corporation. Making good economic policy isn’t at all like maximizing corporate profits. And businessmen — even great businessmen — do not, in general, have any special insights into what it takes to achieve economic recovery. Why isn’t a national economy like a corporation? For one thing, there’s no simple bottom line. For another, the economy is vastly more complex than even the largest private company.
— Paul Krugman, America Isn’t a Corporation
Since the beginning of the Republican primary season, I’ve had doubts about Mitt Romney’s constant claim that his business experience makes him an ideal candidate for President. With Romney’s campaign, we are asked to replace Washington insiders and career politicians with a business executive; I struggle to make the connection between business experience and government efficiency. The two are different animals. Maybe business executive experience suggests a person is capable of making tough decisions, but tough decisions are easier to make when you are unconcerned with human costs. Government, on the other hand, is solely concerned with people (or so it used to be!) and unconcerned with maximizing profits and dividends, unless you consider an educated citizenry and a strong economy to be dividends of effective government. Like Mr. Krugman, I don’t buy the argument that a business executive should hold the office of the President. We are the United States of America, not America, Inc.
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