Republicans often have two mantras that are meant to disparage government in the space of a few words. One is “the private sector can do it better and cheaper” and the other is the term “free market.” Once these words have been put into the conversation, everyone seems to understand that they conjure up certain infallible truths.

For instance, the phrase “private sector” evokes companies that are doing well, thanks in no small part to the fact that the system rewards the very best. The most talented become CEOs and COOs. Costs are driven out as are under-performing workers. As far as I know, no one has yet to stop the conversation there and say, “Perhaps you could explain why so many businesses fail?”

And that is but one of the things I would like to know. When was the last time you shopped at Woolworth’s? Bought a Philco TV? Cruised down the street in your new Studebaker? Watched a game on the Dumont network? Did you have some stock in McLeod like I did?

Even within a company, brands come and go, some never take. Remember the laser disc? Have you washed your hair with Royal Drene lately? Who can forget the Edsel?

If you have haven’t figured it out, the point is that businesses and business leaders are no more gifted or blessed with insight than people in other sectors. Often, if a business is large enough, it can overcome some truly insipid decisions. If they are not big enough, they may be victims of their own choices.

Now, I am sure that many of you have had the experience where a business that you have some interest in – as an investor, worker, customer or supplier – suddenly is on shaky ground or just disappears one day. You lose your investment or your job or perhaps as a supplier, you are on the hook for supplies that have disappeared and have not been paid for. Once you get over the anger and thoughts of revenge, you do realize that in America this happens daily and there is often ‘collateral’ damage.

So let’s say that in the world of totally privatized public services, one of the businesses that is supposed to put out fires in your neighborhood has had to cut staff to maintain their profit. The day that your fire occurs, there are only a couple firefighters on duty and your house burns down completely. Or perhaps you buy some meat that was processed at a plant that was not inspected because the inspection service went out of business. Things such as public safety, health, and education are much too important for the often narrowly focused, get-it-done-cheap-as-you-can business mentality.

Businesses usually set the parameters that they will work within. Government often cannot. And even with setting their own parameters, businesses fail. Going beyond the simple mantra it becomes clear that business and government do not operate the same way. And while business may lend some guide on how to do some things better, it should not be looked at as the only model for government.

If a P&L sheet were all we needed to run government, things would be so much simpler. But, especially in government, that is so not true.