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Michigan Governor Wants 'Open Source' Economic Model

Posted by timothy on from the for-some-values-of-open-source dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Incoming Michigan governor Rick Synder spoke in Kalamazoo, MI today and says he wants to use an 'open-source economic development model' to help repair the battered down state. Perhaps during his time as president of Gateway he saw a benefit to the open source model, but can it really be successfully applied as an economic model?"

3 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Define "Open Source" by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 3, Interesting

    At this point it would be impossible to tell if the term "open source" is being abused here, there just isn't enough information in this article to know what he means by it (or if it is just a phrase calculated to push the right buttons with people). However, by using it in this context, Governor Snyder increases the public perception of "open source" as a good thing.

    --
    The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
  2. Re:Here's my model by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting
    The idea that government spending doesn't create growth is a mantra repeated by many. Unfortunately, few are willing to debate it. I am glad you provided some a counter argument already, let's expand it some more:
    When is government spending generating growth?
    • Infrastructure
    • Education
    • Sciences, Research & related

    When is it generating little to very little growth?

    • Religion (don't even get me started)
    • Environment (I am not saying it's not needed, it's however very capital intensive and generates little "true" growth; it has potential for some ultra-long term growth defined as future environmental disasters prevention - but it's at least debatable)
    • Social programs and Medicare (again, needed: yes, but not for growth reasons - it's about compassion)
    • Military

    It's however IMPORTANT to remember that government's job is not only about growth of the nation or society at all cost. It must also include well being of the current and future members of nation / society. Because, at the end of the day, we all want to be happy (and many of us hopefully also want to see others around us happy). Economic / industrial / social growth is not the ultimate aim, it's just one of the many paths to (or components of) happiness.

  3. What if what if what if by MikeRT · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What if the government actually didn't take on debt? What if the government actually had a policy of saving 25% of any budget surplus and returning the rest as a tax refund? What if the government actually had its own private cash reserves with which to do non-deficit spending and lower the need to have discretionary funds in the budget in any given year? What if those cash reserves were stored in local banks that gave out loans in good times? What if the government tried to actually cut out unnecessary spending?

    If a private household did the equivalents of those things, it'd be quite well off within several years. After 30-40 years, the parents would have their home firmly paid off and would be able to fold their mortgage payment into their savings and retirement funds.

    I'm only 27, but my grandmother remembers when the federal government actually used to be the one doing for the world what China does for us. How the mighty have fallen.