Date: December 30, 1930
Location: Northampton, MA
Summary: The government needs to treat businesses, like it does labor and agriculture, by tempering regulation and listening sympathetically.
(Original document available here)
We need a better understanding between business and government. It would be well to temper regulation with co-operation and season restriction with encouragement.
The solicitous care given labor and agriculture by the government has generally worked to the public advantage. When the representatives or individual members of these interests make mistakes they are not charged against the whole organization. But in commercial business the errors of one are usually considered to reflect on the whole group. All legitimate business is entitled to governmental consideration.
Business is involved not only in matters of regulation, but in the whole broad field of the domestic and foreign policy of the government. All these relationships vitally affect the welfare of the people.
It would be contrary to sound policy for business or any organization to engage in an effort to dominate political or governmental action by meddling in what does not concern them. That would warrant a revival of criticism against invisible government. But when industry will be affected by governmental action it ought to be heard sympathetically and without the implication of seeking domination contrary to the public interest. We cannot have employment and prosperity except on the basis of justice to business.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge Says: Dispatches Written by Former-President Coolidge and Syndicated to Newspapers in 1930-1931 (Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation)
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Jill Leavitt who prepared this document for digital publication.