The Self-Congratulation of the "Public Servant" | Cato Institute

The Self-Congratulation of the "Public Servant" | Cato Institute: "First, private entrepreneurs cannot force anyone to do anything. They succeed only if they convince people that it is in the latter’s interest to part with their money. That means producing something that actually does make people’s lives better. Truth be told, every morning we should praise the people who created pharmaceuticals, airplanes, housing, cell phones, computers, automobiles, art, umbrellas, refrigeration, bicycles, iPods, medical devices, toys, cameras, ice cream, and much, much more. All have enriched our lives. None of these goods—at least as far as I am aware—were created by Pete Stark, much less any other politician.

Second, absent political intervention, markets ruthlessly hold entrepreneurs accountable. Competitors are constantly seeking to serve consumers better. The moment people believe that a new car, computer, cereal, musical group, drug, or most anything else is better, they will dump the old product. Consumer allegiance lasts only as long as people believe they are being served well. So the entrepreneur’s job is to figure out how best to serve customers.

Contrast that with the politician. First, they rely on coercion, not service—that is, money comes through taxation, backed by the threat of imprisonment."