To the editor:

A common criticism of government is its unfriendliness to business, run by politicians who can’t administer anything, not schools, health care, or even mail service. Some say government should be run like business, by business principles. So we’ve privatized hospitals and schools, sold off toll roads and bridges. There’s a recent move to run Kansas prisons for profit. Many say anything politicians do can be done better by businessmen.

Two men are running for governor. One has never met payroll or shown a year-end profit. His adult life has been politics; he’s known for moral, religious and social issues. His political coin is stamped by opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage. I know little else that stands out but his moral ideology. He wants to put governor on his presidential résumé. He wants to be a chief executive, a couple years here, then back to Washington.

I don’t know a lot about the other guy, never met him, have only read a few quotes in newspapers. But apparently he’s made a living, been a corporate CEO, been responsible for the bottom line, for reporting to employees and shareholders, has justified the paycheck he’s taken home to his family. His life appears to have focused on practical industry.

Kansas doesn’t have money to pay for colleges, schools, roads or anything else. Our next governor will face tough economic issues. Do we need moral ideology or practical industry?