Maximize Shareholder Value

That is what we learned in business school.  That is the mantra of corporations.  That is the mantra of capitalism.

I guess our Governor has gone off to learn about other ways of structuring society - the Happiness Index and all.  And my Unitarian friends are investigating socialism.  ok.

My country, the global world order, and every country striving out there to better the fortunes of its citizens, every nascent democracy, they are all striving for capitalism.  Yes, it can ravage and dehumanize people.  Yes, when taken to excess (have we seen this?!) it exploits people, it exploits those at the top too, who must chant the mantra "maximize shareholder value", as if nothing else matters.

Sure, if corporations are not held liable for destroying the health of its workers.  If they are not held liable for their "externalities", whether its injecting toxic chemicals into the groundwater to frack for some more shale gas, or just plain scraping off boat paint and letting it drift into the Columbia River (sorry, state secret here).

Yes, we need regulation.  Oregon needs legislation.  Bangladesh needs legislation.  Egypt needs legislation.

But when all is said and done, capitalism survives.  So lets not blame Apple for "working hard and playing by the rules", hey, where have I heard that one ?  They did as capitalism does, and maximized shareholder value, storing $100M of profits in Ireland.  Because its legal.  Because it maximizes shareholder value.  Because the IRS permits this.  If we citizens don't like this - then write to your elected representative and encourage change.

ok, back to my ipod.