THE BUSINESS INTERFACE WITH GOVERNMENT
Jack Smith grew up outside a small town in a forest country of the Northern United tates. Like most of his friends, he attended public schools. At the outbreak of world war II. Jack entered the Army and served four years. Upon discharge, he enrolled in the state university and received his degree with support from the federal government’s GI Bill of Rights.
After graduation, he moved to the Rocky Mountains and obtained a job with a lumber company. Shortly thereafter he married and bought a home with a federal veterans Administration guaranteed mortgage. Jack as smart and capable. He advanced rapidly with his company and was able to save money, with the help of a federal Small Business Administration loan, he built a saw mill and entered business on his on. He as, at the same time, the successful bidder in a timber sale held by the United States Forest Service.
Because Jack as a veteran, he received priority in bidding on some land which the United States Bureau of Land Management as selling at public auction. He as successful in obtaining a small parcel of land and built a modest home on it. His retired parents soon moved into the house, where they lived comfortable with the aid of their Social Security checks.
As Jack became more firmly established in business. He became more interested in local and state development. under a federal program. He as instrumental in having his town declared a recreation area. Which made it eligible to receive federal funds to develop recreation. A park and swimming pool were built. He was also active in getting the government to build a large dam and irrigation project close to town. He was appointed to the state planning commission and as elected to the state chamber of commerce.
One day Jack wrote to his congressman: I urge you to do everything in your power to curb increasing governmental give-away programs. Government’s willingness to enter virtually every phase of private and business life rapidly destroying the American heritage of individualism. In addition, the high taxes which businessmen must pay to support these programs are rapidly destroying the profit motive and sapping the vitality of the business system. I demand that you exert all effort to preserve free competition and our laissez faire tradition
To illustrate a different point of view toward government-business relationship. Consider the case of Bill Jones. Bill was born and grew up in a medium-sized Eastern town in which there were two major employers. One of the major employers was a large privately owned manufacturing company. In addition to being a major source of employment for local townspeople, the company was also the major taxpayer in the community. The other employer was a large government installation and because installation and because it was a government installation it paid no taxes a all.
Bill’s father owned and operated a successful medium-sized business in the community. While he was by no means rich. Bill’s father had ample financial resources to educate his son outside the public school system. Bill received his early education in a parochial school and during his high school years he attended a private boys’ school.
Bill’s father believed strongly in business involvement in community affairs. He not only gave generously of his own time but also encouraged employees at all levels in his company to become involved in important community projecs. His company usually contributed relatively large sums of money to these projects.
After finishing high school. Bill entered the armed forces. During Bill’s absence. His father retired and lived comfortably from investments and annuities which he had accumulated during his business career.
Bill applied for and received a four-year college scholarship from the Ford Foundation. He attended a private university where he majored in sociology.
After graduation Bill accepted a job with the government as a sociologist. He now often makes speeches on the immorality of business and the failure of the government in the operation of the economic system.
Both Jack Smith and Bill Jones follow idealistic concepts. Smith although he has gained much from government follows idealistic concepts of individualism and laissez faire which are far removed from modern reality. He wants the benefits of government without its interference. Jones, although he has gained much from private enterprise. Follows an idealistic concept of the social ethic and of bureaucracy and monolithic central planning. Neither view is wrong. What is important is that both business and government, and their representative, agree on what kind of socioeconomic system we should have.
After graduation, he moved to the Rocky Mountains and obtained a job with a lumber company. Shortly thereafter he married and bought a home with a federal veterans Administration guaranteed mortgage. Jack as smart and capable. He advanced rapidly with his company and was able to save money, with the help of a federal Small Business Administration loan, he built a saw mill and entered business on his on. He as, at the same time, the successful bidder in a timber sale held by the United States Forest Service.
Because Jack as a veteran, he received priority in bidding on some land which the United States Bureau of Land Management as selling at public auction. He as successful in obtaining a small parcel of land and built a modest home on it. His retired parents soon moved into the house, where they lived comfortable with the aid of their Social Security checks.
As Jack became more firmly established in business. He became more interested in local and state development. under a federal program. He as instrumental in having his town declared a recreation area. Which made it eligible to receive federal funds to develop recreation. A park and swimming pool were built. He was also active in getting the government to build a large dam and irrigation project close to town. He was appointed to the state planning commission and as elected to the state chamber of commerce.
One day Jack wrote to his congressman: I urge you to do everything in your power to curb increasing governmental give-away programs. Government’s willingness to enter virtually every phase of private and business life rapidly destroying the American heritage of individualism. In addition, the high taxes which businessmen must pay to support these programs are rapidly destroying the profit motive and sapping the vitality of the business system. I demand that you exert all effort to preserve free competition and our laissez faire tradition
To illustrate a different point of view toward government-business relationship. Consider the case of Bill Jones. Bill was born and grew up in a medium-sized Eastern town in which there were two major employers. One of the major employers was a large privately owned manufacturing company. In addition to being a major source of employment for local townspeople, the company was also the major taxpayer in the community. The other employer was a large government installation and because installation and because it was a government installation it paid no taxes a all.
Bill’s father owned and operated a successful medium-sized business in the community. While he was by no means rich. Bill’s father had ample financial resources to educate his son outside the public school system. Bill received his early education in a parochial school and during his high school years he attended a private boys’ school.
Bill’s father believed strongly in business involvement in community affairs. He not only gave generously of his own time but also encouraged employees at all levels in his company to become involved in important community projecs. His company usually contributed relatively large sums of money to these projects.
After finishing high school. Bill entered the armed forces. During Bill’s absence. His father retired and lived comfortably from investments and annuities which he had accumulated during his business career.
Bill applied for and received a four-year college scholarship from the Ford Foundation. He attended a private university where he majored in sociology.
After graduation Bill accepted a job with the government as a sociologist. He now often makes speeches on the immorality of business and the failure of the government in the operation of the economic system.
Both Jack Smith and Bill Jones follow idealistic concepts. Smith although he has gained much from government follows idealistic concepts of individualism and laissez faire which are far removed from modern reality. He wants the benefits of government without its interference. Jones, although he has gained much from private enterprise. Follows an idealistic concept of the social ethic and of bureaucracy and monolithic central planning. Neither view is wrong. What is important is that both business and government, and their representative, agree on what kind of socioeconomic system we should have.
