I sent a post of my own to Creative Capitalism.

If a government were truly trying to maximize profits, then it would be managing a country in such a way as to increase its wealth.

…A poorly-run country, such as Zimbabwe, probably would be taken over by investors seeking to profit from a turnaround. These investors would buy up shares and install new management.

The editors shortened the piece, and in the process took out an acknowledgment of Mencius Moldbug.

One way to think about a profit-maximizing government is that it is like a slave-owner who realizes that feeding and educating his slaves is the best way to earn a high return on his assets.

Most people would say that we live in a world in which we are not slaves to government. It could be that, or it could just be that our masters are somewhat diffuse and dysfunctional.