From: Arlo J. Bensinger (ajb102@psu.edu)
Date: Sat Jul 10 2004 - 14:16:37 BST
Dan,
> Rather than complaining that others aren't reading your posts, perhaps you
> should spend a little more time digesting the posts yourself. The story of
> Buckminster Fuller wasn't meant to evoke sorrow or pity for the man because
> he didn't make money. The point I meant to make is that no business can
> survive without earning a profit. I don't care if it's United Airlines or
> Mom and Pops Donut Hut. That is what business is about!
>
Certainly. But the story (and I've reread it this morning several times) was
laid out in very clear pattern (1) he wanted to do good, (2) he started a
business to do good, (3) said business failed, then (4) jumping off a bridge.
I know very well the pain and misery that comes with the collapse of one's
labor. I know intimately the agonizing psyhological effects of loss of
employment, especially employment that one has dedicated one's life to.
I made only two points in repsonse, (1) he (or anyone else) should be proud of
the good they have done, regardless of the "money" attached, and (2) if a loss
of his labor drove Fuller to a bridge, how many Tijuanese laborers, and
laborers in my hometown and across America, are standing on that very bridge
today?
Finally, about "profit to survive". I wonder if Coke could survive, earn a
smaller profit for the executives to be sure, but pay better wages to its labor
force? Certainly it could, but the "profit" is always grossly unevenly
distributed (multimillions for the executives, cents an hour to the labor).
Some would have me believe that the ONLY two options are (1) the gross inequity
or (2) Communist Russia. I see other alternatives. Do you?
Arlo
PS: I've not had any indication, Dan, that you were not "reading my posts". It
was not a lament at disagreemenet (which you and I may have), it was at
repeating statements that clearly indicated that the dialogue was not
progressing (which you and I do not have). In short, disagreement and honest
misunderstanding are not at issue, they are natural and even desirable, having
someone say that I think "earning money is not good", or that I must want
"coersion of honest traders", etc even though I very loudly articulated
otherwise is what I was lamenting.
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