61. I agree with the statement insofar as government systems of taxation and regulation are, in general, a great burden to business, and I agree that government constraints are needed to prevent serious harms that would result if business were left free in the singular pursuit of profit. However, I think the speaker states the obvious and begs the more relevant question. Is government at best a tremendous burden on business, as the speaker claims? l think one would be hard-pressed to find any small business owner or corporate CEO who would disagree. Businesses today are mired in the burdens that government has imposed on them: consumer and environmental protection laws, the double-tiered tax structure for C-corporations, federal and state securities regulations, affirmative action requirements, anti-trust laws, and so on. in focusing solely on these burdens, one might well adopt a strict laissez faire view that if business is left free to pursue profit the so- called invisible hand of competition will guide it to produce the greatest social benefit, and therefore that the proper nexus between business and government is no nexus at all. Is government, nevertheless, a necessary burden on business, as the speaker also |