CNN is noting this morning that Apple now has more cash than the US government with $76 billion on its balance sheet. See below:
Now we know what Steve Jobs was going to do with all that cash. Let's debate what a government run with Apple cash would be like. I'll start:
- The government would be more expensive up front, but total cost of ownership would be lower over time and citizens would be happier. Bureaucrats would have a good name.
- There would be a dictator, who usually knows best but periodically delays release of new programs that the public wants just because they offend his taste. The public generally likes his tastes, so they accept this with minimal grumbling.
- The government would also develop a massive surplus, because the citizenry would pay up for better services and then express their happiness repeatedly.
- Many other countries would attempt to emulate the US but get the mix of style and substance all mixed up and generally fail.
- The entire country would run on very high capacity, yet very, very thin, lithium ion batteries that could inserted into just about anything but could never be removed. This would create a new version of planned obsolescence that somehow wouldn't bother people.
- The Pentagon would become circular and be made out of one super sturdy, but thin, piece of aluminum that would be incredibly durable and hold up to any conceivable threat. It would be renamed The Infinite Loop.
- The entire country would be able to ditch their anti-virus software, because anything Apple does is "immune" to security threats.
- Once again, the US would be viewed as "insanely great."
What do you think?
