Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to Yes, I do. Excellent example.

re: Yes, I do. Excellent example.
ER — (archived)

Whether or not a business fails or succeeds has to do with many factors, many of them out of anyone's control; but the short term benefits due to unscrupulous business practices may very well be compensated in the long term by an ethically run shop. There is a form of karma at work here, expressed in terms of good will and reputation. Maybe people delight when they hear evidence of unscrupulous businessmen running their companies into trouble, but I'm sure some perfectly reputable ones fail also. The market does not reward or punish anyone. It just is. And it is possible to buy short term success at the expense of long term failure.

The example I mentioned of the yacht builder moved me profoundly, but not because I was surprised; I'm well aware that many businessmen are decent and honest people who care about a lot more than the bottom line. What I saw was an individual committed not just to his business, but his product and employees as well, a man who cares about his suppliers, dealers and his community. This is not because of any touchy-feely altruism, but because it's good business, and because of his personal integrity. When he retires the shop will be turned over to his son, and the business will go on with a life of its own, like a family survives the death of a patriarch. Not all businesses are like this, or want to be like this.

Businessmen are people. They are just as likely to be good or bad as are employees, or politicians, or lawyers. In short, the business community is neither a paragon of virtue nor a nest of thieves. They have interests which they will defend, as do we all. I simply cannot take their word for it that what they want is what we should all do. We're all in business together, we have to deal.

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