Let's explore this question. After all, in every election cycle, at every level, there are successful business people running for office. They tell us, and the argument is generally accepted, that if a person can make a fortune in business or run a large corporation profitably, that person would also make a fine Senator, Governor or President.

I think this not true. In fact, I think the opposite is closer to true. The more successful at business, probably the worse they would be at public administration. Yes, there will be exceptions. Because there will be exceptions, I don't want to get into individual cases. I'm considering this as a general, statistical question.

But why would I think that Bill Gates for example, would be a lousy President? He's smart, generous and wildly successful. How could he fail?

The U.S. Senate is full of millionaires. In spite of a few Senators reporting low or negative net worth, those doing so own properties worth close to or greater than the $1 million mark. So they've got some dough somewhere.

In you opinion, how's the Senate serving you these days?

Businesses are not democracies. The boss is the boss. He doesn't need approval to take action or make change. Disagreement with the CEO can mean loss of employment. Failure to cater to his whims can mean the end of promotion opportunities.

In governance, the leader has to build consensus or his plan, project or bill dies.

Our President is the most powerful man in the world. He can order a nuclear attack. He controls the most powerful military the world has ever seen. Without broad agreement, he can't 'give' us health care reform, a benefit we would like as long as it was reformed to our individual tastes.

The Governors of all fifty states need the approval of their legislatures to spend state money. No U.S. Senator can write and pass a bill alone. He has no control over the affairs of his home state.

I do not think anyone who has been very successful at business could function in an environment where they were just a voice in the crowd. Being accustomed to having control, all the time, would make it very hard to adjust to being merely a team member.

And it gets worse. He would have to be a team member who would be willing to make concessions to the competition!

Now, try to think of a very successful business person who operates by total consensus, has no ego and is willing to cooperate with competitors in the best interest of his industry.

Good luck.

Let's talk about this.

Chris Reich

Chris@InnisfreeRanch.com