

What I Would Do as President

Government's role is to keep the playing field level for business, and to provide support where appropriate.
By Mark Roberti
Sep 26, 2011When I announced, with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek, that I was running for president of the United States (see Why I'm Running for President), I thought I could write a series of articles playing on the political story of the moment. But since then, I've been so despondent over what I've been hearing out of Washington, D.C., that I have found it impossible to joke about the political situation.

By and large, it seems that we have one party that believes the federal government is the cause of every problem, and another that sees it as the solution to every problem. The reality, of course, is that neither is true.

Government can not solve every problem, and regulations are often stupid and a burden on businesses. But appropriate regulation is necessary for all companies to compete. Every businessperson knows this. Regulations, when handled correctly, are akin to rules in a sport. You can't play baseball unless someone sets the strike zone. Problems arise when the rules become so restrictive that players can no longer play the game.

I do believe that governments can help stimulate demand, as well as play a critical role in educating workers. And despite the debacle with Solyndra, the solar-panel company that received a federal-loan guarantee that is now under investigation, governments also play an essential role in funding primary research. Many technologies were supported by government research when there was no commercial market for them. Countries that wish to remain on the forefront of technological advancements need some government support for research.

Governments also play a critical role in maintaining essential infrastructure, which is essential to the long-term health of any country's economy. Unfortunately, the profligate U.S. federal government never put funding aside for infrastructure, or got a handle on spending, so now we can't afford essential infrastructure upgrades.

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