261 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Wayne Dawson's avatar

I think I probably know how you feel, but I think business is probably just pragmatic. Most of us feel powerless against a trend that has probably been going on for many years. Some 10 years ago, we thought the issue was the conflict between science and faith. Actually, that was a symptom. The issue, it seems, was about power.

Probably all human beings are somewhat inclined toward thinking that there are immediate consequences for wrongdoing. Even the brief passage through high school did not teach us that bad people can get away with a lot. What seems to have happened was a gradual, incremental process where the consequences were minimal, or maybe on the short term positive. So people kept going that direction because it was working (for them at least). It is easy to put on the blinders when your economics depend on it. We think "It is for someone else to figure out, I don't have time".

That discussion with Edward Luce was incredibly stunning, especially that quotation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRBLzLBLj9k&t=87s

Expand full comment
BlueOntario's avatar

Not sure if you were referring to my post, but I'll tag along...

Kinzinger was correct with his observation about "small people with small dreams." He was referring to politicians who are value neutral in the way I'll refer to it below. Businessmen are large and small people with small dreams - the here and now.

Business is value neutral and in many ways shielded from the pain that will occur when the train runs off the rails. The story of IG Farben isn't necessarily going to put brakes on anyone in business or industry who is Trump-curious. "You have to break eggs to make an omlet, as long as I'm not an egg" feeds into Arendt's list of banalities. It forgets, though, that it's not unknown for leopards to look at the face of a leader of capital and get an urge to feed.

Expand full comment
Wayne Dawson's avatar

Yeah, sorry, I seem to have responded tangentially. Interesting point about the leopard ... That reminds me of Putin's kleptocracy. Putin is a really shifty crook. Our Grand Bamboolzer is dangerous and slippery, but compared to Putin, he seems very much a junior kleptocrat.

Businesses will find that it is only a matter of time before they face having to cross him. ... and many will they are caught in his net.

Expand full comment