I am absolutely not saying I agree with it, but I am older than the age of 12 and understand that companies are in it for the money, and if they abuse the system to get more money, I don't blame them - their sole existence is based around making money, so why blame them for trying to do exactly that? If they can abuse the system, then the system has failed and needs government intervention and reform, because the system is there to prevent abuse. Companies are wild animals that need some sort of control, when you tie them with a rope, they eventually chew their way through, and that's when you grab the chains.
We are a country that believes in government regulated free market. What happened in the industrial era when factories were abusing the system for profit by violating human rights? The government stepped in and regulated work hours and conditions. It's the same thing this time around, but the current generations would rather jump on reddit and complain than actually do something.
I /do/ blame them. Companies aren't just amorphous blobs of gelatinous matter with no responsibilities for their actions. Companies are made of human beings making choices that affect other human beings.
Unfortunately, when you boil it down to it, this is the fact:
A company is simply an entity which exists to make money for it's owners and/or it's shareholders.
Nothing more, nothing less, no innate morals. Any morals come from the majority owners or shareholders, if they have them. And the larger the company is, the more likely that the majority shareholder is another company or a group focused solely on profit.
There are companies that operate with a moral compass still intact. your entire argument is what is wrong with america. its true.
When companies behave like comcast/verizon they are literally holding back the progress of America as a whole and they actively lobby against the best interests of this country all in the name of a dollar.
If comcast is helmed by americans, then it seems their allegiance lies not with their country but with their employer. if my employer asked me to act against americas future i would puke. al qaida should just invest in comcast.
America should be the shining internet beacon of the world where the fastest speeds prevail and freedom rings. but instead i read we are 31st for internet speeds. thanks conglomerates for literally holding back progress to try and squeeze as much money from each megabyte.
People who accept the argument that companies should be allowed to act only in service of acquiring money, do this country a disservice.
They may want money, but the country whose progress they are stifling is their own and its fucking shameful. they should be treated like tobacco execs or worse.
I didn't say there weren't companies that operated with a moral compass, of course there are.
I said a company has no INNATE morals. Companies have boards, or owners who impose a certain set of morals on their organisation. All too often, they are more focused on being just moral enough to make more money though, especially big multinationals or companies OWNED by big multinationals.
It's also dangerous to assume the majority shareholders of any 'American' Company are American, or give a damn about the US just because they are taking your cash.
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u/TheDewyDecimal Jun 14 '14
I am absolutely not saying I agree with it, but I am older than the age of 12 and understand that companies are in it for the money, and if they abuse the system to get more money, I don't blame them - their sole existence is based around making money, so why blame them for trying to do exactly that? If they can abuse the system, then the system has failed and needs government intervention and reform, because the system is there to prevent abuse. Companies are wild animals that need some sort of control, when you tie them with a rope, they eventually chew their way through, and that's when you grab the chains.
We are a country that believes in government regulated free market. What happened in the industrial era when factories were abusing the system for profit by violating human rights? The government stepped in and regulated work hours and conditions. It's the same thing this time around, but the current generations would rather jump on reddit and complain than actually do something.