Yesterday, I posted a link to a National Review article praising the efforts of Gov. Mitch Daniels in making Indiana more business-friendly. The headline on the article was "Open for business," which was meant, and I took to mean, as a compliment to the governor. Tracy Warner of The Journal Gazette (or perhaps I should have said "another newspaper in town" and made you guess), disagrees:
To me, saying a government is "Open for Business" is not a positive phrase. Think: "Congress is Open for Business." It is another way of saying "Everything's For Sale to the Highest Bidder."
I don't think I need to add too much commentary. You should now have an excellent grasp of the difference between Tracy's mindset and mine when it comes to business.
Comments
Your title was accurate in context, and does not compare to the Congress example.
Indiana needs business diversity as much as anything. "Open for business" sums that up succinctly. I think it's a pretty good motto, and clever useage of the phrase in the context of new business development.
Any good marketing manager could base magazine ads and a brochure on the phrase:
INDIANA
Open for Business