Profit.

A for profit corporation exists for one purpose, and if it deviates from that single purpose it can be successfully sued by its stockholders. That singular purpose is “make as much money as possible”. If breaking the law and paying the fines costs less than obeying the law they’ll break the law and pay the fines. If treating its employees well costs more than treating their employees poorly, they’ll treat their employees poorly.

For profit corporations are extremely good at fulfilling their singular purpose, and not so good at much else. It turns out that you can only “do no evil” when your profits are doubling every year. After that, evil becomes necessary to secure the bottom line.

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1 Comment »

Comment by Roland Hesz
2008-07-06 10:21:51

That’s the problem. Should change the law.

 
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