Party of business fails miserably

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	Party of business fails miserably While Republicans routinely boast at being the "party of business," it amazes me how often they show ignorance of business fundamentals when it comes to government. This ignorance was obvious in the recent override of Governor Pawlenty's veto of the Minnesota transportation bill. Pawlenty doesn't understand business. Based on a 36-year career in private sector business, the fundamentals of business are not complicated. And it's true that many public sector fundamentals are business's equivalents. For example, a business must serve customers to succeed. Without customers, it just doesn't work, no matter what the business. It can be a steel mill, a newspaper or a barber shop. Serving customers is fundamental to success. Likewise, citizens are customers of the business of government. There are other basics of business. A memorable mentor of mine often said, "You have to know when to spend a nickel to make a dime." He meant that a return on an investment is fundamental and to get the return you must invest. No investment, no return. Pretty simple. Another basic of business is asset management. Some business assets are hard (working capitol and equipment), some intangible (customer good will) and some quasi-tangible like human assets. In fact human assets are the most important of all. It shouldn't be difficult to understand that investing in Minnesota's transportation assets is fundamental in order to have a healthy economy. Roads, bridges and rail transport are public sector assets necessary for an economy to flourish. Just like any business, all government outflows of money are not costs. Some are, like utility bills and office supplies. But some uses of money are investments. Smart business leaders know the difference. They carefully control costs but vigorously protect vital investments. Taxing road users for improving the state's infrastructure means it is an investment. Higher taxes are unpopular but elected public officials are paid to lead when it comes to necessary investments. Borrowed money can be part of the answer, but it isn't fair to load up future generations with debt just to avoid the responsibility of leadership. That was the issue when House Democrats and six courageous Republicans told Governor Pawlenty, "If you are not ready to lead, then get out of the way." The result is a crucial job-building $6.6 billion investment, fully endorsed by the business community, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Not all Republican governors have failed the business test. Elmer Anderson, Al Quie and Arne Carlson all understood leadership responsibilities when Minnesota's public assets were in need. They also knew that budget priorities, bonding, and taxes all had to be considered to keep Minnesota a leader among states. Pawlenty has consistently rejected their advice in his pledge to reject taxes necessary for basic infrastructure investments. It's this governor's recipe for Minnesota mediocrity. In Washington, Harvard MBA grad George Bush revealed his lack of business intelligence by leading an administration that is dedicated to prove that government isn't meant to work. His revolving door of discredited cabinet department heads included Rumsfeld (Defense), Gonzales (Justice), Brown (FEMA), O'Neill (Treasury), and Scully (Medicare). Tom Scully demonstrated his business stupidity when he conspired with Republicans in Congress to prevent Medicare from negotiating volume drug price discounts for America's seniors. This was a theft of tens of billions for enriching Drug companies, codified by the stroke of President Bush's pen. (Psst! Any MBA should know volume discounts are just good business!) Some Republicans seem to think you can weaken government without harming democracy. That's wrong. It's like saying you can neglect public education without harming our nation's IQ. Besides transportation, we also need to invest in our young people in order to have a prosperous future. This means health care and first class education opportunities for all. The path we are on currently won't work, because it dooms us to build more prisons, more homeless shelters, fund more foster homes, more food shelves, more overcrowded hospital emergency rooms, and more police and criminal justice assets. Those are all assets of failure. Good roads and smart, healthy citizens are assets of success. Do we want to fail or do we want to succeed? If it's the latter than it's time Republicans understand the fundamentals of business-or for voters to replace them with newly elected Democrats.