Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemnseven
I love getting to the root of this "greed" issue...
When you're searching for a job, all other things being equal, do you go for the one that pays more over the one that pays less?
Are you being greedy if you choose the higher paying job?
If you're shopping for a product, and two products are on the shelf that both will do the job you want them to do, are you being greedy by selecting the less expensive brand?
If you start a business, and you do everything in your power to cut down on expenses to earn as much money as you possibly can, are you being greedy?
|
You're smarter than that, but I'll spell it out for you, since you asked.
Corporate structure:
Shareholders -> Executive Officers -> Employees
Shareholders want return on investment, but are usually not involved in the everyday activities and/or decisions of the business. They usually only care about the bottom line.
If the executive officers of a corporation are faced with a moral dilemma, and chose the morally right thing to do but profits suffer, the shareholders will elect new officers. If the executive officers want to keep their jobs, they will almost always be forced to choose profits over ethics. See the Ford Pinto as a case study.