January 14, 2004
Anti-Competitive Disease Spreading Censorship leading Capitalists
I just read Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation, a trully fascinating read. From his condemnation of American capitalism, using the fast food industry as a good example, two things really stuck out for me:
Over a hundred years ago , a Republican senator rejected the idea that capitalisms main aim was to reduce prices at any cost, in particular with regard to workers welfare.
"I do not believe that the great object of life is to make everything cheap" said Senator Teller.
No, the American object would seem to be to make life cheap. (and the World follows...)
"...the nations economy [bears] little relation to real competition or freedom of choice."
"From the airline industry to the publishing business, from the railroads to telecommunications, American corporations have worked hard to avoid the rigors of the market by eliminating and absorbing their rivals."
This hits the nail on the head for me and leaves me even more strongly in favour of the idea that companies should not exist (solely?) to further profits, but to provide a greater social benefit, to provide something far less tangible but far more important than profits for the guys at the top.
Posted by tom at January 14, 2004 09:17 PM | TrackBack