APRIL 9, 2020 – Now more than ever, we see the importance of government . . . and business; or more precisely, the difference between good and bad.
In the time of Corvid-19—without central, collective, organized effort by government and business, huge swaths of human population, if not all people within a given geographical area right up to the entire planet itself, would be largely unviable.
This was not always so. As our far less populous ancestors migrated from trees to savanna, “government” and “business” were neither concepts nor necessities for expansion of the species. Even thousands of years later, low-level tribal organization worked fine. But eventually, as we discovered agriculture and acquired surplus, government and commerce became desirable and necessary to sustain continued success (expansion) of the species.
Whether all government and commerce that evolved was “good” was a matter of perspective. If you were a late 20th century person reading about human sacrifices ordered by some high priest among the Aztecs, you could fairly say that Aztec government was “bad.” If you were a West African kidnapped by the next tribe over and sold to a slave trader, you’d rightfully doubt the virtue of “free enterprise.”
Likewise, if you are an American living today (white supremacists excepted), you’d understandably condemn “government” in the form that prevailed in Germany from 1934 to 1945.
Or closer to home, the lies and policies of Johnson and Nixon during the Vietnam War were a resounding indictment of American government at the time.
Likewise, you could savage “government” if you were a producer of a magic potion that enhanced buyers’ health, comfort or felicity but were put out of business thanks to a ridiculous raft of rules and regulations promulgated by far-off, faceless bureaucrats authorized by legislation passed by a power-mongering pack of “big government” minded sorts and enforced by a local nit-wits with a Napoleonic complex and envious of your brains and riches.
To drive the nail home—contrast the bumbling Naked Emperor and sycophants (really bad government) with the sharp focus of (MN) Governor Walz and competent team (really good government).
And so on.
But it’s a mistake to toss the baby out with the bathwater; to throw out “government” with its excesses and absurdities. The same applies to “business” with its profit motive and rewards for innovation. Simply because much commerce is rapacious, corrupt, or polluting doesn’t mean society would be better off if all business were outlawed. Without “business” the entire food supply chain would be at risk, and most of us wouldn’t now be alive. Furthermore, private enterprise will contribute mightily to development and distribution of The Vaccine. We must keep this mind when rightly condemning “business” that leverages fear by selling tons of snake oil or hoarded Purell at $40/2 oz. container.
“Good” government and “good” business in the time of Corvid-19 establish more than ever, that both are as desirable as they are essential for our better prospects.
(Remember to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.)
© 2020 by Eric Nilsson
