> KG wrote: > 1) Big government is bad when it helps the individual. > 2) Big government is good when it helps corporations profit and > control government. >
Yeah, I've heard that before, but let me clarify my answer. Your point really seems to ask this policy question: Should governments be able to cut deals with private business? Or, in this case, should a city be able to grant a tax break to Wal-mart in exchange for a service or infrastructure? My answer is yes. While I'd oppose them doing so except in extreme circumstances, I don't think you should prevent them from doing it. Doing so would, in fact, be big government! BTW - The reason I don't think it's a good idea for, say, a city, to get involved in private business is because they're not business people! That is, rarely are local gov'ts in a position to truly understand what they're doing. At a minimum I think they should hire management consulting groups to advise them. For example, Bain recently did an assload of work for The City of Atlanta gratis. There's also The Bridgespan Group which specializes in non-profit business consulting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:192721 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
