Posted by sean at 169.71.1.248 on May 03, 2002 at 14:14:54:
In Reply to: Re: But I NEED 20 zillion dollars to make my art! posted by sean on May 03, 2002 at 14:03:44:
... the thousands, if not more, of people employed world-wide by Gap who would lose their jobs. Sure, some people already lost their jobs when the plants went overseas (if they were ever here, I just don't know), but all the stores would have to close, all the higher-ups in the company would have to take big severance packages, and all the sweatshops would just be gatherings of people in small rooms sweating because they had nothing to do and no other source of income. (I mean, it's not like we're talking about Gap kidnapping people and forcing them to work. They're coming to countries which they choose because the labor is unorganized and give people who have nothing something. Granted, the something is crumbs, but is it really fair to blame the company, is all I'm saying. The government created the situation and then washed their hands of it. I'm not going to say it's the fault of the Republicans ... but it is.)
: I'm going to make their argument for them because it's easier than coming up with my own and more accurate to what they would say, in response to you, anyway.
: "We have a responsibility to the shareholders to make as much money for them as possible."
: Because you're absolutely right, they can, indeed, choose to do it responsibly. But then they'd bankrupt anybody that held onto their stock, which wouldn't be very many people, when they went out of business. It all boils down to the bottom line. The best you'll get is that they'll choose to operate legally. But don't expect a business to be run by ethics, because it's bad business to do so, especially when you're dealing in other people's money.
: I'm not saying there's anything wrong with capitalism. It's fine, and that's the way it is. But if we're going to live in a society of capitalism, then the law has to be constantly watched in order to make sure that it stays up-to-date with the goings-on of the day, in order that the people can be protected. The reason Michael Moore is fighting a losing battle in the world is that he's going up against the CEOs, who all have the law on their side, rather than the laws and lawmakers.