There is nothing wrong with making a profit. People have to be paid, after all, and that includes the ownership who put the money at risk in the operation to begin with. The problem is when making a profit becomes the only motive.
Every company is established with the purpose of offering a product or performing a service that makes their customers’ better or simpler. If is successful, it grows from nothing to something in a relatively short period of time. Then it gets the attention of the Investor Class, who shovels money into it with the expectation that it will sustain that growth. Now, the focus is on Building Shareholder Value, and the customer is seen as a necessary evil toward that goal.
The worst thing that ever happened was when we decided that public corporations had a duty to maximize shareholder value above everything else. It renders all those mission and vision statements irrelevant. No matter how much the CEO says the firm’s goal is to make the world a better place through selling stuff, we all know it’s a lie. Their goal is to enrich tthemselves, at our expense.
It’s one of the reasons I couldn’t go into the defense industry. Not just working on weapons that are deadly to enemy combatants and innocents; but making profit off of doing so.
If there becomes a point in my career where it’s clear that my work doesn’t make things better, then I know I’ve made a mistake.
I know a couple of people who had jobs working with a defense contractor. One of them justified it by saying he doesn’t actually work on missile projects, his department does as air traffic control systems (and sure, there’s nothing objectionable about that). But they both knew what their company did and it certainly did make it an uncomfortable place to work. You can tell yourself that these weapons only get used on bad guys, but I think the more you have to tell that story, the harder it is to hear yourself.
Everything I got offers for were weapons platforms, fire control systems, or guidance.
The exact same time I was going through these a cruise missile in Yemen hit a school bus full of kids - obviously one American made sold to the Saudis.
My kid wasn’t in school yet, but I looked at him, shook my head and said nope. Can’t do it. Won’t do it. Turns out I do value things other than fun projects and money, and by a huge margin.
If the USA keeps putting off single payer. The first thing that should happen is all health insurance companies be required to become non-profits and cap CEOs and other c levels pay at a certain % of the lowest paid workers.
There is nothing wrong with making a profit. People have to be paid, after all, and that includes the ownership who put the money at risk in the operation to begin with. The problem is when making a profit becomes the only motive.
Every company is established with the purpose of offering a product or performing a service that makes their customers’ better or simpler. If is successful, it grows from nothing to something in a relatively short period of time. Then it gets the attention of the Investor Class, who shovels money into it with the expectation that it will sustain that growth. Now, the focus is on Building Shareholder Value, and the customer is seen as a necessary evil toward that goal.
The worst thing that ever happened was when we decided that public corporations had a duty to maximize shareholder value above everything else. It renders all those mission and vision statements irrelevant. No matter how much the CEO says the firm’s goal is to make the world a better place through selling stuff, we all know it’s a lie. Their goal is to enrich tthemselves, at our expense.
I added an edit to clarify my reflection.
It’s one of the reasons I couldn’t go into the defense industry. Not just working on weapons that are deadly to enemy combatants and innocents; but making profit off of doing so.
If there becomes a point in my career where it’s clear that my work doesn’t make things better, then I know I’ve made a mistake.
I know a couple of people who had jobs working with a defense contractor. One of them justified it by saying he doesn’t actually work on missile projects, his department does as air traffic control systems (and sure, there’s nothing objectionable about that). But they both knew what their company did and it certainly did make it an uncomfortable place to work. You can tell yourself that these weapons only get used on bad guys, but I think the more you have to tell that story, the harder it is to hear yourself.
They’ve both moved on at this point.
Everything I got offers for were weapons platforms, fire control systems, or guidance.
The exact same time I was going through these a cruise missile in Yemen hit a school bus full of kids - obviously one American made sold to the Saudis.
My kid wasn’t in school yet, but I looked at him, shook my head and said nope. Can’t do it. Won’t do it. Turns out I do value things other than fun projects and money, and by a huge margin.
If the USA keeps putting off single payer. The first thing that should happen is all health insurance companies be required to become non-profits and cap CEOs and other c levels pay at a certain % of the lowest paid workers.