Why is Corporate America evil?

[mithrandir2001]

Why do some people have such a vendetta against companies and business? It's as if the existence of corporate profit demonstrates the pillage of the common man. I've heard the phrase "corporate greed" so many times, I'm numb. If it weren't for companies like Microsoft, if it weren't for economic systems like capitalism, we would not be engaging in this conversation right now. We'd still be using the telegraph.

Companies pay my salary. Companies make products I want. Companies make money for stockholders, a status almost anybody can attain. What is the evil here?

 

[pulse8]

Some people have problems when others are successful.

 

[Robert01]

They exploit the poor.

 

[TallBill]

damn.. where is corporatereaction when we need him

 

[N8Magic]

<< They exploit the poor. >>



Actually, I would say they exploit everyone pretty much equally.

 

[mithrandir2001]

<< They exploit the poor. >>


Expand on that please. The government exploits the poor. State lotteries exploit the poor. It's a blanket phrase.

 

[glen]

Passions Within Reason by Robert H Frank suggests that companies would even gain financially if they were more altruistic.

 

[glen]

One thing is for sure, I'll never work in corporate America ever again.
I'm am a right wing nut, but I love people and try to treat everyone with dignity.
In my experience, corporate America has no soul.

 

[axelfox]

what till they stab you in the back and ..........ack!

 

[JACKHAMMER]

I don't think people have a problem with corporate America persay, but they have a problem with shady business practices, illegal business pratices, knowingly screwing the consumer to make an extra nickel, treating their employees like dirt to make their quarterly report better, etc.

 

[Phil21]

Corporate america = laziness and fat. Coupled with a lot of scam-artists.

Just my take on it, from the inside though.

-Phil

 

[novon]

Capitilism ain't bad, but the current form of capatilism practiced in America is one that rewards those with the fewest morals and the most greed, for example, look at how corporate money is heavily vested in political agendas.

 

[mithrandir2001]

That Passions Within Reason book looks fascinating. I ordered a used copy at half.com for $6.95.

I had worked for a particular Fortune 500 company that left me bitter. But they didn't drive me to declare that big American business is evil. I think they are a bunch of idiots, but I'm not required to give them any of my business and that's enough for me. I think that the disdain for companies that provide ways of lives for so many Americans is often misplaced, falling to the David and Goliath mentality. Are people jealous that some have it much better than they do? Have they considered that successful people may have worked to get where they are now?

 

[Chubs]

Because many large companies make decisions about the safety of their products based on profit vs. amount likely to be lost on a court case. You could substitute "safety of their products" with any number of phrases like "polluting the environment", "safe working conditions", etc.

Because earlier in (really the first 1/2 of) America's existence corporations had limits on the amount of money they could earn because the founding fathers saw how much undue influence businesses in England had on the government.

Earning a lot of money doesn't necessarily make a corporation evil, it just allows them more power in our society/government than they should have.

 

[ImTyping]

Any person, corporation, or entity that places profit over human lives is evil. Not ALL companies are evil; but enough of them trade in humanity like it was a commodity, that one should be wary when having to deal with them.

 

[Golliwogg]

Ignore me and this post as I am just a silly little HaX0R who has been banned numerous times from Anandtech

 

[JellyBaby]

<< I don't think people have a problem with corporate America persay, but they have a problem with shady business practices >>

I like this answer. Go back a few hundred years and it's the same story -- you'd be angry at the sole local merchant if he paid farmers absolute bare minimum for produce while at the same time over-charging his customers for the final goods.

 

[Platypus]

<< damn.. where is corporatereaction when we need him >>



Tada!



Because they seek to better themselves rather than their consumers, see also: capitalism

 

[mithrandir2001]

Perhaps I should ask this question: if Corporate America is indeed evil and must be dismantled, what should take its place? If we tell the Big 3 to close shop, how would a consumer go about looking for a new automobile to purchase? Don't big businesses exist because of the natural benefits of economies of scale? Would we want 250 different car manufacturers selling 1000 different models, the most basic costing $50,000 (gotta spread that federal testing expense over very few cars)?

 

[Ornery]

"Companies pay my salary. Companies make products I want. Companies make money for stockholders, a status almost anybody can attain. What is the evil here?"

Bingo! I'm looking at a news story here of LTV Steel workers from Cleveland protesting in Washington DC with signs that read, "WE DEMAND JOBS!" As if it's Washington's job to "create" jobs. Get a clue! Corporate America creates jobs just like mithrandir said. If you don't want to work for these people, DON'T! If you don't want to buy their products, DON'T! But know that we got where we are today because of entrepreneurs and their ilk.

Who do you think did more for mankind, Michael Milken or Mother Teresa?

 

[cuteybunny]

all your souls are now belong to me, everything is now mine.
Bill Gate wants to rule the world, so far he has achieved much of it. Everyone whether poor or rich is greedy but given the oportunity they will do whatever it takes to be the richest person on earth, more money = more power to do whatever you like even bend the rulez if you like.
r we going to continue to feed this big fat a** corp spending all your hard earned money into his brainwashing windows or find a way to put stop to this once and for all. The world was fine before bill gate came in and took over like some nazi's ruling world for themselves.

 

[TallBill]

<< Because they seek to better themselves rather than their consumers, see also: capitalism >>



Not only do they not want to better the consumer... they dont wanna better any other employee in the corporation. Notice that the best companies have nice CEO's that do nice things for their employees.. the kindness trickles down...

 

[glen]

altruism probably has long term financial gain for a company such as in the 50 to 100 year range
oportunism may have short term 1 to 20 years gains, at the expense of long term gains.
It is therfore to the CEO's advantage if he tends to be more oportunistic rather than altruistic


got it?

 

[JellyBaby]

<< If you don't want to work for these people, DON'T! If you don't want to buy their products, DON'T! >>

I basically agree with you. Sometimes, though, you don't have the option to say "No!". And the most ornery companies attempt to rig things so it stays that way.

 

[thomsbrain]