CEOs v. Sole Proprietors

By and large, Republicans manage the economy like corporate CEOs. They are only concerned about the next quarter's earnings statement, because their bonuses (re-election and high-paying lobbyist jobs) depend upon it. They are willing to raid the pension fund and delay infrastructure improvements in order to maximize short-term profits.

Democrats tend to manage the economy like sole proprietors. They take a longer-term view, because they see the company as their only retirement nest egg. They maintain the physical plant and keep their current salary low in order to re-invest it for the future. The problem is that many of them are not very good businesspeople. They will hire their nephew because he needs a job, even if he's crappy at it. They will keep buying from the same supplier, even when it becomes unprofitable.

I shudder whenever I hear someone say that government should be run like a business.