When any politician campaigns on running government like a business I always cross them off my list. If they campaign on it but know it’s not so, they’re lying. If they really believe it they’re idiots.
It is apparent that Dan Proft doesn’t understand how corporations are run. The General Assembly is, arguably, the “board of directors” of the state. The legislators, like board members in a publicly traded corporation, are elected by the shareholders, in the state’s case, the citizens.
Many a millionare business executive has run for public office saying the exact same thing as Rauner. In Illinois at least, few get the chance to find out.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:57 pm:
I agree with Huh? Businesses accumulate profits and spend them with the aim of getting wealthier. Governments spend money to better the lives of others, and to invest economically in others. Wisconsin is a great example. The state made budget cuts and now has a budget surplus, which is fine, but the state’s job-creation ranking sank to 44th. Wisconsin seems to be going through austerity. Why not spend the $425 million or thereabouts budget surplus to stimulate the economy?
If that’s your analogy then you don’t understand government. Government isn’t a business and can’t be run like one. I’m with @Calhoun Native. The minute a candidate says they want to run government like a business they are off my list. They are clueless about government from the outset.
I would ask how that CEO stuff worked out with our last President, a Harvard MBA grad. There are applicable lessons that can be brought over from business to government. But they are two very different creatures.
My world was turning upside down with the painful thought that I agreed with something Proft said. Thankfully Word brought sanity back to me with his reminder of the broken clock.
I agree that running the government is not like running a business,…. But there has to be a better way of running the government than the way it is run today.
This statement encapsules Rauner and his Dopey ideas, like shutting down the state, and collapsing the pensions. Bruce Rauner has no idea what it means to be a governor and 1/3 of the Illinois’ governemnt, and further, Rauner has no idea that a governor and the General Assembly working TOGHETER get things done.
A governor who thinks his/her 1/3rd is greater than the other 2/3rd is a failed/failing governor. Throw in that pesky constitution and you have a governor clueless, helpless, and hopeless.
All that being said, run Bruce Rauner, I want everyone in the GOP who wants to run, to run.
Then, when your time on the stage is through, back the Nominee so we can get the Mansion back.
It is apparent that Dan Proft doesn’t understand how corporations are run. The General Assembly is, arguably, the “board of directors” of the state. The legislators, like board members in a publicly traded corporation, are elected by the shareholders, in the state’s case, the citizens.
The big (and this is huge) is that the CEO is elected by the board, not directly by the shareholders. If Illinois ran under a parliamentary system (that’s an interesting idea) this would make a lot more sense.
has anyone explained to CousinBrucey that IL does not change laws via referendums. Marriage Equality sign or veto?
Perhaps CousinBrucey and DopeyDan can come understand unlike business government has the legal obligation to provide services and programs in good times and bad. Biz can fire workers and close plants.Unless DopeyDan can give us a list of repealers he is just whistling in the dark
Surprised?
Fire. Aim, Ready
I keep looking at “How Illinois Government is Set Up”… and I have yet to read/see/hear that the ILGA is a Board of Directors, and THAT Board of Directors “Hire” a CEO.
On this one, - Knome Sane -, you may be a bit off, unless its snark.
- OneMan -, well done on the “Parliament” point. Great way of explaining and pointing out Rauner’s lack of …knowledge(?) of even different “types” of government?
A nice saying but impossible since government has a different objective than a business. A business is supposed to make money government on the other hand…..
- Just The Way It Is One - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:54 pm:
Glad to see SOMEone has some horse sense–in this case Dan Proft and NOT Rauner, as usual–when it comes to how the Citizenry naturally expects how its’ top Elected Leader should approach formulating public policy and running our State’s–or ANY State’s–Government!
Advisory referendum questions are permitted in Illinois. If this is what Rauner meant, his position is not out of line. His response was not a model of clarity.
Binding referenda are much more limited under Illinois law. I wonder if Pat Quinn has ever had cause to regret the “Cutback Amendment” which helped champion. I think that he might appreciate a different line up in the GA now that he is governor.
Rauner is more of an entrepreneur, who are famously incapable of running larger and more established businesses. That is because managing, vs. creating, requires the ability to work with a range of stakeholders. Some CEO’s can do that well (John Rowe), some military men can do that well (Eisenhower), and some politicians can do that well (Jim Thompson). But not every businessman, military leader, nor elected official has the necessary skills. My guess: Rauner would cause four years of unceasing, unproductive warfare!
-A governor who thinks his/her 1/3rd is greater than the other 2/3rd-
Willy, Rauner is just using “Private Equity Math.”
He made a gazillion, to use Rich’s term, leveraging his 1/3rd with 2/3rds of “OPM” from those stupid, wasteful pension funds that he wants to throw overboard.
Good con$ulting will get that all $traightened out.
Could use someone with business experience to clean up our financial health, including our long term debts. The “non-business people” we elected have absolutely screwed it up. Time for a radical change.
===Good con$ulting will get that all $traightened out.===
Make sure you leave Rauner a number to call so we can “help”…
Rauner’s, specifically, complete lack of understanding of HOW government works, the checks and balances, and what is EXACTLY in the constitution, seem to go completely against Rauner’s belief that Illinois IS Wisconsin or Indiana, with the given legislative make-ups that Republicans control NONE of the legislature and the guarantees of the pension, constitutionally … all the while, throwing in crashing those pensions, would be a “governor” going against his/her Oath about protecting Illinois’ constution …Other than that … I wouldn’t mind some business experince!
The governor and his cronies plus the General Assembly and their cronies get the best retirement benefits and perks while voting to take away retirement benefits from front line workers…wait, that’s the same way Big Business does it!
I agree that it’s not 100% a match between CEO and governor but Proft’s reasoning in the quote isn’t sound. Under no scenario would the duties/power of the GA be considered subordinate to the gov such that he could fire them. The closest match to business would be the board of directors which the CEO can’t fire. Of course, as others pointed out, this isn’t a perfect match…probably more like 80%.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:30 pm:
The principle goal of a business is to earn money for the owners/share holder of the company.
The principle goal of state government is to SPEND money to the betterment of the residents.
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:32 pm:
God Save the Queen!
- titan - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
You can’t fire (or direct) the AG or SoS or Treasurer or Comptroller either
- Calhoun Native - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:42 pm:
When any politician campaigns on running government like a business I always cross them off my list. If they campaign on it but know it’s not so, they’re lying. If they really believe it they’re idiots.
- Knome Sane - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:48 pm:
It is apparent that Dan Proft doesn’t understand how corporations are run. The General Assembly is, arguably, the “board of directors” of the state. The legislators, like board members in a publicly traded corporation, are elected by the shareholders, in the state’s case, the citizens.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:51 pm:
Many a millionare business executive has run for public office saying the exact same thing as Rauner. In Illinois at least, few get the chance to find out.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:57 pm:
I agree with Huh? Businesses accumulate profits and spend them with the aim of getting wealthier. Governments spend money to better the lives of others, and to invest economically in others. Wisconsin is a great example. The state made budget cuts and now has a budget surplus, which is fine, but the state’s job-creation ranking sank to 44th. Wisconsin seems to be going through austerity. Why not spend the $425 million or thereabouts budget surplus to stimulate the economy?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:58 pm:
@Knome Sane:
If that’s your analogy then you don’t understand government. Government isn’t a business and can’t be run like one. I’m with @Calhoun Native. The minute a candidate says they want to run government like a business they are off my list. They are clueless about government from the outset.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
A broken clock is right twice a day. Proft points out the lameness of Rauner’s tired old platitude.
- Boone's is Back - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
I would ask how that CEO stuff worked out with our last President, a Harvard MBA grad. There are applicable lessons that can be brought over from business to government. But they are two very different creatures.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:29 pm:
My world was turning upside down with the painful thought that I agreed with something Proft said. Thankfully Word brought sanity back to me with his reminder of the broken clock.
- Rufus - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:59 pm:
I agree that running the government is not like running a business,…. But there has to be a better way of running the government than the way it is run today.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:05 pm:
“Democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.” Churchill.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:31 pm:
This statement encapsules Rauner and his Dopey ideas, like shutting down the state, and collapsing the pensions. Bruce Rauner has no idea what it means to be a governor and 1/3 of the Illinois’ governemnt, and further, Rauner has no idea that a governor and the General Assembly working TOGHETER get things done.
A governor who thinks his/her 1/3rd is greater than the other 2/3rd is a failed/failing governor. Throw in that pesky constitution and you have a governor clueless, helpless, and hopeless.
All that being said, run Bruce Rauner, I want everyone in the GOP who wants to run, to run.
Then, when your time on the stage is through, back the Nominee so we can get the Mansion back.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:44 pm:
The big (and this is huge) is that the CEO is elected by the board, not directly by the shareholders. If Illinois ran under a parliamentary system (that’s an interesting idea) this would make a lot more sense.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:46 pm:
has anyone explained to CousinBrucey that IL does not change laws via referendums. Marriage Equality sign or veto?
Perhaps CousinBrucey and DopeyDan can come understand unlike business government has the legal obligation to provide services and programs in good times and bad. Biz can fire workers and close plants.Unless DopeyDan can give us a list of repealers he is just whistling in the dark
Surprised?
Fire. Aim, Ready
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:48 pm:
- Knome Sane -,
I keep looking at “How Illinois Government is Set Up”… and I have yet to read/see/hear that the ILGA is a Board of Directors, and THAT Board of Directors “Hire” a CEO.
On this one, - Knome Sane -, you may be a bit off, unless its snark.
- OneMan -, well done on the “Parliament” point. Great way of explaining and pointing out Rauner’s lack of …knowledge(?) of even different “types” of government?
- Levois - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:49 pm:
A nice saying but impossible since government has a different objective than a business. A business is supposed to make money government on the other hand…..
- Just The Way It Is One - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:54 pm:
Glad to see SOMEone has some horse sense–in this case Dan Proft and NOT Rauner, as usual–when it comes to how the Citizenry naturally expects how its’ top Elected Leader should approach formulating public policy and running our State’s–or ANY State’s–Government!
- Esquire - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:28 pm:
Advisory referendum questions are permitted in Illinois. If this is what Rauner meant, his position is not out of line. His response was not a model of clarity.
Binding referenda are much more limited under Illinois law. I wonder if Pat Quinn has ever had cause to regret the “Cutback Amendment” which helped champion. I think that he might appreciate a different line up in the GA now that he is governor.
- Elder - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:02 pm:
Rauner is more of an entrepreneur, who are famously incapable of running larger and more established businesses. That is because managing, vs. creating, requires the ability to work with a range of stakeholders. Some CEO’s can do that well (John Rowe), some military men can do that well (Eisenhower), and some politicians can do that well (Jim Thompson). But not every businessman, military leader, nor elected official has the necessary skills. My guess: Rauner would cause four years of unceasing, unproductive warfare!
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:06 pm:
-A governor who thinks his/her 1/3rd is greater than the other 2/3rd-
Willy, Rauner is just using “Private Equity Math.”
He made a gazillion, to use Rich’s term, leveraging his 1/3rd with 2/3rds of “OPM” from those stupid, wasteful pension funds that he wants to throw overboard.
Good con$ulting will get that all $traightened out.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:10 pm:
Could use someone with business experience to clean up our financial health, including our long term debts. The “non-business people” we elected have absolutely screwed it up. Time for a radical change.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:32 pm:
===Good con$ulting will get that all $traightened out.===
Make sure you leave Rauner a number to call so we can “help”…
Rauner’s, specifically, complete lack of understanding of HOW government works, the checks and balances, and what is EXACTLY in the constitution, seem to go completely against Rauner’s belief that Illinois IS Wisconsin or Indiana, with the given legislative make-ups that Republicans control NONE of the legislature and the guarantees of the pension, constitutionally … all the while, throwing in crashing those pensions, would be a “governor” going against his/her Oath about protecting Illinois’ constution …Other than that … I wouldn’t mind some business experince!
Yikes!
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:45 pm:
-the checks and balances-
This is the only part Bruce understands, and not in the right way.
“Pick up that check from the pension fund, and we’ll grow our balance!”
- Flan - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 5:32 pm:
The governor and his cronies plus the General Assembly and their cronies get the best retirement benefits and perks while voting to take away retirement benefits from front line workers…wait, that’s the same way Big Business does it!
Not sure what Rauner’s problem is then…
- thechampaignlife - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 7:32 pm:
I agree that it’s not 100% a match between CEO and governor but Proft’s reasoning in the quote isn’t sound. Under no scenario would the duties/power of the GA be considered subordinate to the gov such that he could fire them. The closest match to business would be the board of directors which the CEO can’t fire. Of course, as others pointed out, this isn’t a perfect match…probably more like 80%.