Public vs. Private
September 21st, 2006 by
Senior Editor: Jeff
There is an increasing trend today towards customizing services for each individual. Dell is a great example. You can call or go online and customize a PC that meets your specific needs. Healthcare is moving in this direction too with research into DNA-specific drug therapy. This trend is great from many angles: the customer is able to get exactly what he wants/needs with little waste. As the cost of delivering such services goes down, more companies will move in this direction as well.
Consider this possibility from a public (government) standpoint. What would happen if government was customized to our individual needs? Prejudice would be the cry. How can the government treat people differently? We are not all “equal under the law?” Here lies the problem with government services: everyone is treated the same.
Consider any service, like welfare or unemployment. When the government provides them, it cannot treat people according to their individual circumstances. This would be “unfair.” However, private charities can approach each person’s situation differently and people will love them for it, and it will be much more effective.
Public services are doomed from the start, for they are compelled to provide each with the same service. On the other hand, private industry is required to address each client’s needs, or they will cease to exist.
