Re: MD the metaphysics of free-enterprise

From: ml (mbtlehn@ix.netcom.com)
Date: Sat Jul 10 2004 - 00:06:09 BST

  • Next message: Platt Holden: "RE: MD the metaphysics of free-enterprise"

    Arlo:

    you said:
    >Do I think any one person at UC is "evil"? Certainly not.

    -------
    Not sure I agree:

    In EPA environmental investigations it is typical that there is
    a single person or a small group who quietly and very
    discretely make a decision to DUMP. (This excludes the
    more typical situation of leaks in lines, tanks. or faulty
    plumbing.) Typically they try and cover up the details in
    a way that shows they are well aware of the immorality
    their actions.

    So, if it is deliberate, it probably is because of a "bad guy"
    or small conspiring group.
    ---------------------------------------------------------

    >...how should we feel for the population of Tijuana?
    >Or don't they count?

    Coke and UC seem to generate an amount of anger in your
    posts if I am not mistaken. Where is the greatest Quality?
    A) Making UC stop dumping
    B) Helping the affected people
    C) Making Coke pay more
    D) Organize a boycott/call 60 minutes...

    I am not mocking here, but when I get PO'd at something
    I find doing something better than just being angry...
    (Imagine a Tijuana Libre: Coke, Tequile,& Lime thrown
    in the face of a Coke CEO)

    If you/we recognize their actions as low quality, how can
    Coke and UC be brought to understand the same? If the
    world is dominated by SOM and only a small population
    even knows the term MoQ, much less understands it,
    does that imply a duty to push the understanding we have
    or is this a more personal set of applications on the level
    of individuals?

    puzzled by application...

    thanks--mel

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Arlo J. Bensinger" <ajb102@psu.edu>
    To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
    Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 3:52 PM
    Subject: Re: MD the metaphysics of free-enterprise

    > Hi Dan,
    >
    > You wrote:
    > >
    > > It's been my experience that most business owners are very responsible
    > > people and they care deeply about their fellow human beings and the
    > > environment. There are a few who do not and these few tend to overshadow
    the
    > > good that's done by responsible business owners. Such generalizations
    are
    > > rarely fair, IMO.
    > >
    >
    > I would like to believe you. Indeed, in the case of small, community
    business I
    > probably do. And yet the greatest injustices are done by the corporations
    that
    > can affect a great number. Think Union Carbide just dumped near Tijuana?
    Check
    > the web for information on how much they dumped in India, so much so that
    > birth-defects are still staggeringly high and common. But in a dialogue
    where "anything can be
    > justified in the pursuit of maximizing profit", there is no way to
    criticize UC
    > for what they did. In Platt's world, UC made an unquestionable and
    perfectly
    > legitimate business decision, it disposed of hazardous waste cheaply by
    > bypassing American regulations. It earned more money. So therefore it was
    good.
    > The Tijuanese example, or the others Mark mentions, all perfectly
    acceptable
    > business practices. They maximized profit and bypassed pesky social
    > regulations. Business owners exercised their "individual freedom" to
    maximize
    > wealth by tapping into (and maintaining) the poverty of certain areas.
    Nothing
    > can be wrong with that.
    >
    >
    > > invested with him lost their money, and he was left by himself, standing
    on
    > > a bridge considering whether or not to jump.
    > >
    > > If a business doesn't earn money it will not be a business long. Period.
    And
    > > all the good just comes undone.
    >
    > Many people die without money but feeling good because they "did good" in
    their
    > lives. If Fuller was ready to find his life not worth living because he
    wasn't
    > earning money, I feel sorry for him.
    >
    > But that's interesting. If we are to feel sorry for Fuller, who was going
    to end
    > his life because he wasn't earning money, >
    > Arlo
    >
    >
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