President Joe Biden: “I know how to make government work!”
You would think he would know. He has worked in government for 51 years.
But the truth is no one We can make government work.
Biden hasn't done that.
Look at the border chaos, the failure to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, the rising cost of living, and the unsustainable record high debt.
In my new video, economist Ed Stringham argues that no government can do that. Until now Because “no matter how talented people are, you can't implement change…Big bureaucracies get bigger and slower.”
I learned this as a consumer reporter watching bureaucrats regulate businesses. Their rules usually made consumers' lives worse.
Still, politicians want the government to do this. more!
Remember when the Obamacare website went live? Millions of people tried to sign up. On the first day, only 6 people worked.
Vice President Joe Biden excused himself by saying, “I'm neither.” [Obama] And I'm a technology geek. ”
Stringham points out, “If you can't design a basic, simple website, how are you going to manage half of your economy?”
While bureaucrats struggled on the ground with Obamacare, the private sector succeeded in creating platforms like Uber and Lyft, iCloud, apps like Waze, and smartwatches.
The private sector creates things that work. have To. If a company cannot provide adequate service to its customers, it will go out of business.
But the government is a monopoly.that I never have Go out of business. Since there is no competition, there is less pressure to improve.
Often good people join the government. Some people work just as hard as workers in the private sector.
It's not that long. This is because bureaucratic incentives kill initiative.
If a civil servant works hard, he or she may receive a small raise. But he sits near others who earn the same salary, and thanks to outdated civil service rules, they're less likely to be fired if they're late, lazy, or stupid.
Over time, it reduces morale. Eventually, government officials come to the conclusion: “Why try?”
In the private sector, workers must strive to improve their situation. If you don't, your competitors will do it and you could lose your job.
Government never goes out of business.
“Companies can only stay in business if they keep their customers happy,” Stringham points out. “Competition pushes us to be better. There is no competition in government.”
I push back.
“Politicians are saying, 'Voters can get rid of us.'”
“In a free market, consumers vote with their dollars every day. Under politics, they have to wait four years,” Stringham replies.
This is another reason why government doesn't function as well as the private sector over time.
Every year, the Department of Defense fails audits.
If private companies repeat this, they will go bankrupt. But the government never shuts down.
A Pentagon spokesperson said, “We're working on improving our processes. We're certainly learning things every time.''
they don't study much. They still don't pass the audit.
“It's like living in Groundhog Day,” Stringham jokes.
When the coronavirus outbreak hit, politicians handed out about $2 trillion in “relief” funds. The Government Accountability Office announced that more than $100 billion was stolen.
“One woman bought a Bentley,” laughs Stringham. “Her father and son bought a luxury house.''
At least Biden was aware of the fraud. He declared, “I will make you pay back what you stole!”
No they don't. Biden's fraud unit has recovered only 1% of what was stolen.
Even when there is no fraud, the government makes money disappear. I reported on a $2 million toilet in my town's park. When I confronted the park manager, he said, “$2 million was a bargain! Now it would cost $3 million.”
That's the government's job.
Recently, Biden proudly announced that the government would create “500,000” people. [electric vehicle] charging station. ”
Two years later, they had built seven. It's not 7,000. There are exactly seven.
During the same period, the greedy and profit-seeking Amazon built 17,000 units.
“Privatize it!” Stringham says. “Whenever you think something is important, question whether the government should do it.”
In Britain, government-owned Jaguar has been losing money year after year. It wasn't until the British sold the company to private investors that Jaguar actually started making money selling cars people liked.
When Sweden sold Absolut vodka, the company's profits increased sixfold.
It's ridiculous for Biden to say, “I know how to make government work.”
No one does.
Next week, this column will discuss President Donald Trump's promise to “drain the swamp in Washington!”
COPYRIGHT 2024 BY JFS Productions INC.
This post first appeared on Reason.com.
