From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: * X-Spam-Status: No, score=1.4 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 1014db,4873305131bf4d94 X-Google-Attributes: gid1014db,public X-Google-Thread: 109fba,4873305131bf4d94 X-Google-Attributes: gid109fba,public X-Google-Thread: fdb77,4873305131bf4d94 X-Google-Attributes: gidfdb77,public X-Google-Thread: 10261c,90121986704b5776 X-Google-Attributes: gid10261c,public X-Google-Thread: 103376,4873305131bf4d94 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 10c950,90121986704b5776 X-Google-Attributes: gid10c950,public From: billg@jk.pst.com Subject: Re: Your english sucks, mine is better. Date: 1997/11/25 Message-ID: #1/1 X-Deja-AN: 292637160 References: <65ab3u$v07$1@news.nyu.edu> <65d5pd$3e@netra.montana.edu> Organization: IDT Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.c,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.java.advocacy,comp.lang.pascal.ansi-iso,comp.lang.pascal.misc Date: 1997-11-25T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: In article <65d5pd$3e@netra.montana.edu>, ljelmore@montana.campus.mci.net says... > This is a disturbing world-view, to say the least. It also goes against most > of my experiences with people and businesses, at least in America. I've had > personal experience with chronic lying and corruption in one of the Far > Eastern nations (_not_ Japan or one of the Little Dragons), and IMHO, it's > one of the most severe problems that keeps that nation mired in poverty. Who > wants to do business with liars and cheats? The same applies everywhere > else. A relatively high degree of personal honesty and integrity among the > general population is necessary for a healthy business climate. A company's > reputation is probably one of its most prized assets. If you get a > reputation for screwing over over customers and partners, not many are going > to deal with you and you'll likely go under. > > I have to wonder if billg has read much of what life is/was like in the > various socialist "workers paradises" that either collapsed economically or > are desperately trying to convert to capitalism without the ruling class > giving up any real political power (an impossible task). > Larry you sound like one of the "it's either black or white" people. Capitalism perfects dishonesty and unethical behaviour so that it is easy to get away with it (unseen, unclear or takes advantage of scale to wrong many just a little). The devil is in the tactics (the grey areas of exploitation etc. for example). Part of the thinking is that everybody is doing it so it is acceptable. It is not. That may be a rude awakening for some. Someone illuded to the common practice of a business strategy that is unethical initially to "get ahead" and then play fair (or act like it). To me that's a good case for forfeiture similar to illegal drug operations. It's not that capitalism is "bad", it's just that in practice it breeds wrong doing because it attracts those who are greedy and clever who take advantage. It's the perfect crime. Unfortunately, it's one against humanity. This way of thinking is met with opposition by many because they have large investments and stand to lose if the details of their unethical strategies and tactics (their "capitalist" success formula) become dinner table talk. It's time to bring the taboo out of the closet. billg