Re: MD the metaphysics of free-enterprise

From: Mark Steven Heyman (markheyman@infoproconsulting.com)
Date: Thu Jul 08 2004 - 02:31:25 BST

  • Next message: Dan Glover: "Re: MD the metaphysics of free-enterprise"

    Hi Mark M, Dan, Arlo, all,

    Mark M said:
    I apologise for the high sounding tone of this post Mark H.
    A more nuance and measured version is within me, but i feel like
    going with the flow tonight.

    msh says:
    No need to apologize to me, Mark. On this list, I'm probably the
    worst when it comes to sounding high-tone. I appreciate your
    comments, and believe that you and I are pretty much on the same
    page. I believe both of us hear the death-knell, softly in the
    background, when one's being is hopelessly alienated from one's work.

    My interest in Dan's hypothetical stems from the fact that it entails
    the usual justifications for private profit from private business
    ownership: I work harder, worry more, and take more risk than my
    employees, so why shouldn't I profit more than they?

    And, in fact, in small businesses where the owner REALLY IS involved
    in the day to day grind, I think there might be some justification
    for an owner to earn somewhat more. The worry-more argument is pretty
    IFFY, as Arlo has pointed out. And anyone who spends 10 hours a day
    stacking pallets at the end of the production line will tell you, for
    a fact, that no owner works harder. But maybe some risk should be
    rewarded: the hard question is how much, for how long, and at what
    expense to the environment and other elements of the community.

    This question cannot be answered without knowing the sort of detail I
    asked for in my previous post. My asking was really more rhetorical
    than anything. If one's hypothetical business description is
    sufficiently vague and benevolent, there's not much to argue with.

    Thanks again,
    Mark Steven Heyman (msh)
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