NationStates Jolt Archive

There is one and only one social responsibility of business — to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of game, which is to say, engaged in open and free competition, without deception or fraud (Friedman, 1975, p. 133).

depends on the industry.

read this letter I sent to a senior politician in my country.

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Dear Minister McDowell,

As you know, our Dublin hospitals get clogged up at night by people who have been found by the Gardaí to be drunk and disorderly, having consumed too much alcohol. This leaves the real patients neglected in the corridors. I am sure that you agree that this situation is unacceptable given the current state of our hospitals.

The aforementioned caller suggested that clinics dedicated to alcohol-related emergencies be set up. There could be two on the Southside and two on the Northside, and similarly countrywide. They would be staffed by medical staff trained specifically to deal with alcohol-induced emergencies. These clinics could be financed not by income tax but by a tax levied on the drinks industry.

Repeat offenders could be made to pay for their treatment. If they can’t pay upfront, a certain amount could be levied from their income, whether that be wages or welfare. Without money they would be forced to mostly give up their binge-drinking.

Perhaps this proposal has already been considered by the government. I just wanted to bring it to your attention.

Yours faithfully,

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I think that the alcohol and tobacco industries should take some (but not too much!) responsibility for the effects of their products.

nice

There is one and only one social responsibility of business — to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of game, which is to say, engaged in open and free competition, without deception or fraud (Friedman, 1975, p. 133).

In a basic sense, that's all that one can expect out of a business; that's the business of business, as it were.

Anything beyond that most basic of drives is what determines the QUALITY of the business; contributions to chairity, conditions for workers, costomers, neighbors, communities, suppliers, enviornments...all these considerations are "secondary" in nature but really define the company.

Compare it to an induvidual; the duty of an induvidual on the most basic level is to propagate its species. It does this by surviving, finding a mate, and setting the stage for the next member of the species. Everything beyond that is "secondary"

How many induviduals content themselves only with the "Primary" things in life? How many businesses do the same? No one contents themselves fully with their "primary" duty. To do so would be to die as soon as the child is concieved, or for a business to employ slaves instead of workers.

Its the degree of attention one give's to the "secondaries" in life that make up their worth, quality, type, etc. The values they have, how much they concentrate on each of the thousands of secondary considerations.

Think about Wal-Mart, and think about an induvidual. What kind of human being would "Wal-Mart" be? You've already got a mental image; overall, is it positive? What aspects of it are positive? How close is Wal-mart ignoring the secondaries in life?

What kind of human being would "Wal-Mart" be?

Psychotic, according to "The Corporation"

So Friedman says it's okay for me to advertise my services as an assassian, as long as I do it in open and free competition, without deception or fraud? That's probably not what he means, but we could probably waste a lot of time arguing over just what he does mean.

How about this instead? Individuals of corporations should act in their own long term self interest. (Remember long term self interest involves things such as self respect, not just amount of aquired loot.) It has the advantages of being both simple and honest.

"corporations, because they are the dominant institution of the planet, must squarely face and address the social and environmental problems that afflict humankind" (hawken & mcdonough, 1993)

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I was hoping you were talking about walrus-man Thomas Freidman http://re2.mm-c.yimg.com/image/242980582

Businesses are of course looking out for themselves, of course I doubt many of them really try to play within the rules.

There is one and only one social responsibility of business — to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of game, which is to say, engaged in open and free competition, without deception or fraud (Friedman, 1975, p. 133).

Kinda vague on just that statement alone, especially 'rules of the game'. Or the business ethics he's talking about.

Though I do like some of Friedman's concepts being one of the top economists of the modern era. Honestly I haven't read his book.

Kinda vague on just that statement alone, especially 'rules of the game'. Or the business ethics he's talking about.

Though I do like some of Friedman's concepts being one of the top economists of the modern era. Honestly I haven't read his book.

I assume that by 'rules of the game', he is referring to applicable law.