Re: OT : so this is what our troops are dying for in Afghanistan !

On 14 Aug 2006 10:21:54 +0200, David Brown
<david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

John Larkin wrote:
On 11 Aug 2006 11:50:32 -0700, dagmargoodboat@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Ergo, government is good, and necessary, but too much is almost worse
than none at all.

If you want to fit into this newsgroup, you should curb your tendency
to make sense.


Actually, although I don't agree entirely with his post, I found it
refreshing to read a sensible post* for a change!

I understand that companies need to make profits - I simply question the
need for them to make such huge profits at times of difficulty for
others. It's the difference between profiting, and profiteering.

There's no difference. Any company makes all the profit it can. If
somebody offered you $50 for your old rusty VW, and somebody else
offered you $12,000, which offer would you accept?

I
also understand that many of the investors in big companies are
institutions or small investors - but the "fat cats" profiting includes
not only the individual large investors, but also top people within
these massive corporations or their boards, who chose to pay themselves
vast bonuses.

They're taking that money at the expense of the shareholders, not the
customers. The shareholders own the company and can set executive
compensation anywhere the like, if they care to get involved. That can
also sell their stock if they don't approve.

And yes, I know and appreciate that the USA has been heavily involved in
the defence of the free world - but being a good guy for the most part
of last century does not excuse current bad behaviour.

How can you be sure it's still not being good? I'm not.

John

.

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