I recently re-read my Business isn't Personal post and realized that I failed to correctly convey the essence of capitalism and the driving force behind business. According to dictionary.com, business describes a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce or service for profit-seeking purposes.
Uh huh. Profit. That's it. There's the dirty word.
It's profit.
The ultimate goal of a business is to make a profit.
But if these businesses seek to provide the people with a service or commodity, which priority then takes a backseat? Profits or people?
In most cases, the well-being of individuals is put aside in the ultimate quest of making that extra buck. And this is true, despite the harshness that may be exuded in this remark. Evidence of this is all around us. Just take a look.
Wal-Mart. The next dirty word. They have failed to provide equity in their workforce, where women still make less than men, potential for promotion is slim to none, and in some places, they fire their employees whom return to work for them (free of charge) as part of a government initiative to keep the unemployed busy while they seek alternative career paths.
Despicable.
Yes.
But, let's be honest. Being a student, I do not have the luxury of choosing where I shop due to financial and transportation constraints.
Another example, and one that we've all personally dealt with. Those suspicious frivolous charges that show up on your Cell phone bill, and when you call to inquire about how you procured them, their explanations are ridiculous and they end up pretty much telling you to pay the goddamn bill or that your line will be cut.
People vs. Profits
Ultimately, businesses in general do not put the people at the forefront of their agendas.
Morals and values are crushed along the way to make that extra penny.
And then, what?
When you've lined your pockets, what do you with it?
It's been shown that the highest earning population in the USA gave the smallest percentage of their annual income to charity.
I recognize the multitude of businesses and companies that are equitable and put humanity on the forefront.
But the ultimate question I want to pose is, is the structure of a profit-generating mechanism in and of itself conducive to feeding our humanity or destroying it altogether?
Uh huh. Profit. That's it. There's the dirty word.
It's profit.
The ultimate goal of a business is to make a profit.
But if these businesses seek to provide the people with a service or commodity, which priority then takes a backseat? Profits or people?
In most cases, the well-being of individuals is put aside in the ultimate quest of making that extra buck. And this is true, despite the harshness that may be exuded in this remark. Evidence of this is all around us. Just take a look.
Wal-Mart. The next dirty word. They have failed to provide equity in their workforce, where women still make less than men, potential for promotion is slim to none, and in some places, they fire their employees whom return to work for them (free of charge) as part of a government initiative to keep the unemployed busy while they seek alternative career paths.
Despicable.
Yes.
But, let's be honest. Being a student, I do not have the luxury of choosing where I shop due to financial and transportation constraints.
Another example, and one that we've all personally dealt with. Those suspicious frivolous charges that show up on your Cell phone bill, and when you call to inquire about how you procured them, their explanations are ridiculous and they end up pretty much telling you to pay the goddamn bill or that your line will be cut.
People vs. Profits
Ultimately, businesses in general do not put the people at the forefront of their agendas.
Morals and values are crushed along the way to make that extra penny.
And then, what?
When you've lined your pockets, what do you with it?
It's been shown that the highest earning population in the USA gave the smallest percentage of their annual income to charity.
I recognize the multitude of businesses and companies that are equitable and put humanity on the forefront.
But the ultimate question I want to pose is, is the structure of a profit-generating mechanism in and of itself conducive to feeding our humanity or destroying it altogether?
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