(2) Why should a city government (or a school district or a police department) be run like a business? Outside of a common need for fiscal responsibility and personal fairness, these entities’ goals are unlike a business’s. To satisfy stockholders, businesses are obsessed with the bottom line, often making personnel and other decisions with an eye solely on the next quarterly report. Government departments must work efficiently to help all the people for the long run.
(3) Are businesspeople good role models? Some days the L.A. Times‚ Business Section reads like the crime section, listing executives and companies hauled into the dock for corrupt and dangerous practices. More often than not, they’re found guilty, although often they don’t have to acknowledge guilt. Few have to serve any real time.
I know absolutely nothing about Mehaul O‚Leary. He may be a fine broth of a boy, the salt of the earth.
But if Mr. Vera endorses him just because he’s young and a businessman, Mr. Vera has low standards. I’d like the candidate more if he’d shown some interest in our city and its government before the election.
A Liberal Dose of Agreement
Regarding Frederik Sisa’s column this week about liberal guilt:
I have heard that, faced with problems like poverty or immigration, liberals and conservatives react differently.
The liberal feels guilty about the suffering victims and feels obliged to help.
The conservative gets angry at them and claims they deserve their plight, which he then feels free to ignore.
Based on my observations, I believe this is true.