The problems with our society, in a nutshell

[LondonManc]

I never thought I'd be so inclined to agree with an article on the BBC website. But this one sums up our problem: UK 'has particularly extreme form of capitalism' - BBC News

Napoleon has nailed us - we're a nation of short-termist shopkeepers who don't appreciate that big, successful businesses must have a moral compass beyond a responsibility to their shareholders. We should be looking at corporations being encouraged to not lay people off simply because profits were lower than expected. Keeping more people in well-paid jobs is better for society as a whole; taxes remain within the UK, money spent is mostly done within the UK, etc. None of that socialist BS, but more of a sense of social responsibility - for the many, not the Jez.

[Benny]

I never thought I'd be so inclined to agree with an article on the BBC website. But this one sums up our problem: UK 'has particularly extreme form of capitalism' - BBC News

Napoleon has nailed us - we're a nation of short-termist shopkeepers who don't appreciate that big, successful businesses must have a moral compass beyond a responsibility to their shareholders. We should be looking at corporations being encouraged to not lay people off simply because profits were lower than expected. Keeping more people in well-paid jobs is better for society as a whole; taxes remain within the UK, money spent is mostly done within the UK, etc. None of that socialist BS, but more of a sense of social responsibility - for the many, not the Jez.

Ahh but will the shareholders agree?

[sasguru]

I never thought I'd be so inclined to agree with an article on the BBC website. But this one sums up our problem: UK 'has particularly extreme form of capitalism' - BBC News

Napoleon has nailed us - we're a nation of short-termist shopkeepers who don't appreciate that big, successful businesses must have a moral compass beyond a responsibility to their shareholders. We should be looking at corporations being encouraged to not lay people off simply because profits were lower than expected. Keeping more people in well-paid jobs is better for society as a whole; taxes remain within the UK, money spent is mostly done within the UK, etc. None of that socialist BS, but more of a sense of social responsibility - for the many, not the Jez.

Typical Labourite crap. If anything the UK needs to accelerate the rate of free enterprise and capitalism. Starting with privatising the NHS, a monolithic Stalinist organisation that eats up resources and will eventually bankrupt the country with the current demographic trends

[BlueSharp]

Typical Labour clap trap. A companies moral obligation is to meet those obligations set out by law. Government via a democratic vote set out what that law should be.

I don't want mega corp setting what societies moral compass should be.

[LondonManc]

Is it really Labour clap trap? I'd say not. Why should social responsibility equal socialism? I suppose a forum full of contractors is likely to exhibit traits of greed and selfishness but I never thought anything not associated with more money would be dismissed as leftist dreaming. I'd never vote Corbyn and be nearly as unlikely to ever vote Labour but I like the idea of plcs not simply being in it for the money and realising that if they don't offshore and don't make redundancies solely to boost profits that society will benefit. Must be getting soft now I've been a permie for nearly two years I suppose.

[BrilloPad]

50% of society problems are caused by 10% of the people. 50% of global warming is caused by 10% of the people.

Not that anything is going to change - either on global warming or the problems in society. The 90% are way too stupid.

[sasguru]

Is it really Labour clap trap? I'd say not. Why should social responsibility equal socialism? I suppose a forum full of contractors is likely to exhibit traits of greed and selfishness but I never thought anything not associated with more money would be dismissed as leftist dreaming. I'd never vote Corbyn and be nearly as unlikely to ever vote Labour but I like the idea of plcs not simply being in it for the money and realising that if they don't offshore and don't make redundancies solely to boost profits that society will benefit. Must be getting soft now I've been a permie for nearly two years I suppose.

Boosting profits.
That is what a limited company exists to do. It's naive to think that that is incompatible with societal gain.
I work for pharma companies who get a bad rap, but look at the vastly increased life expectancy for diabetics and the fall in heart disease rates.

As for offshoring and making redundancies, these are only a bad thing if they negatively affect the company's success in the long term.
Spreading the wealth around in different geographies creates new and larger (and possibly younger) markets. The demographics trends of the West aren't good for most companies (apart from pharma).

[BrilloPad]

Boosting profits.
That is what a limited company exists to do. It's naive to think that that is incompatible with societal gain.
I work for pharma companies who get a bad rap, but look at the vastly increased life expectancy for diabetics and the fall in heart disease rates.

As for offshoring and making redundancies, these are only a bad thing if they negatively affect the company's success in the long term.
Spreading the wealth around creates new and larger markets.

I know I am going to regret asking. But I will try anyway.

What gain do you think hedge funds provide to society? I know this is an extreme example....

[FIERCE TANK BATTLE]

50% of global warming is caused by 10% of the people.

What a pile of poo, the 10% are pumping out pollution to provide goods for everyone. You can't buy a packet of crisps and then moan about walkers making 10 million crisp packets a day and polluting the world

They're literally making them cos you ask them to

[sasguru]

I know I am going to regret asking. But I will try anyway.

What gain do you think hedge funds provide to society? I know this is an extreme example....

They make JRM and other "non-elites" rich