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October 30, 2012

Would Romney be good business for the nation?

Jean Mauzy Rushville Republican

RUSHVILLE — One common statement I have heard in recent months is that a businessperson, rather than a lawyer, would be best suited to be our president. The argument is that a person who knows how to balance budgets, a businessperson, would be best able to fix our country’s economic problems. Romney even said as much during one of the presidential debates. There is reason to question the logic.

First off, there are many people across the country aware that you should not spend more than you can take in. It’s as common as running a household, really. With that said, I would say that the majority of people who understand that concept are not qualified to run such an elaborate organization as the U.S. government. Second, a lot would be dependent on what niche of business the businessperson is most knowledgeable about. Romney’s background is that of an investor whereas the main goal is to buy things, cut costs, and then either resale for a large profit or to keep if greater profits are going to be realized.

I suppose the statement regarding a business person running our country could have some merit if we are talking about a businessperson who is ethical in all business dealings and who also demonstrates as much concerned for his or her employees as he or she does of lining his or her own pockets. Mitt Romney is a businessman, but what does that really indicate?

While building his fortune, his investment company took over companies, re-structured to cut jobs and then in some cases, sent the jobs overseas. Being a businessman, he was making the moves to ensure his pockets and those of his associates were amply lined. However great it is that he was making his own way in the world, he did it at a cost to his countrymen, the people who now have the power to vote. I must ask how much he cared about the working class citizens of the United States when he was involved in such business doings. Even if at times he wasn’t calling the shots directly, he was involved as beneficiary to the funds gained. Still, ethics count.

The difference between running our U.S. government and being a successful business person comes down to ethics and to the concern for all people involved. In the end, working-class taxpayers should not really be seen as employees of this larger entity called the federal government. If they are, then the working class has a hard way to go to be treated fairly and ethically.

To note: I use the term working class rather than middle class because that’s what most of us are. Middle class is an ambiguous term that many people take to mean the majority of working American’s. However, if you must work in order to make the money to pay your bills then you are a working-class citizen. Technically, middle class is a more comfortable position where you do not necessarily need to work every day because you have a comfortable amount of extra funds to temporarily keep you out of the daily grind is you so choose.

I bring up the case of the working class simply because many people associate that term with union members. Making a comparison where a business minded president tries to govern (control) the nation’s union members, the working-class.

In the real world of big business, the businessperson is not particularly fond of the union. The thought is that the unions take too much power away from the entity. While this may be true, it was once highly necessary to form unions because business owners were greedy and didn’t care about the welfare of the employees, the working-class.  

In a typical scenario of true big business, the top business dogs band together. They give less regard to the employees. They play by different rules. Greed, money, and power can bring a different mindset to any human being. I seriously must question the motives of a man who persuaded some of his cronies to directly inform their employees that an Obama re-election may mean the loss of their own jobs. What kind of bullying mindset is that for a leader of this country?

As a business-minded man, what does Romney really think of the working class? Does he see their needs as a detriment to the profitability of all the larger entities that are part of his social circle?  If only he would reveal a solid plan, we might come to understand if his business mind would be good business for the nation.

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