tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302058077294515606.post15918463525637175..comments2023-05-21T08:15:38.932-04:00Comments on Benjamin Peck's Writings, 2008-2011: CORPORATIONS, PRIVATE INTEREST & CYNICISMBenjamin Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060411573921973698noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302058077294515606.post-580625333505944372009-02-05T13:35:00.000-05:002009-02-05T13:35:00.000-05:00This is fascinating. I agree with everything you s...This is fascinating. I agree with everything you say except your characterizations. I do find selfishness and self-interest appealing. I think it is a wonderful characteristic.<BR/><BR/>The problem with corporations is when they misunderstand what their self-interest actually is. If they take too short-term of a view on self interest, they will do things that are "evil" or "treacherous".<BR/><BR/>If McDonald's gives $5,000,000 to a charity, and it's completely in their own self-interest, rather than being ominous that is wonderful. First, the charity gets the $5,000,000 which is more than any individuals have the power to convey. Further, they know that next year McDonald's will give another $5 MM, likely indexed for inflation, because it is still in McDonald's self-interest.<BR/><BR/>Acts that occur out of charity, good-will, or whatever other nebulous motivation that people seem to think is more appealing, are acts that cannot be relied upon. They are likely to be small, irregular, and sometimes occurring for an unknown motivation. Acts that occur out of self-interest are large, reliable, enthusiastically pursued, and occurring for a known motivation. What's not appealing about that?<BR/><BR/>Corporations are beginning to think longer than the next quarterly statement, they are beginning to think about the environment and the community, and their impact on those. They are beginning to think about how they are perceived in the public conscience. And it's all for their own narrow self-interest, so we know that activity will continue and even grow. That's beautiful, not dark and scary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com