Why do you believe profit is evil?

Question

Why do you believe profit is evil?

Answer 1

4. Save for Rainy Day/Emergency Fund



Many corporations take their profit and stash it away. Think apple which had like a $100b+ emergency fund at one point(they weren't the only one with crazy emergency funds).



This in itself is not necessarily bad but it's not how the system was built to have that amount of capital sitting on the sidelines. Years ago when we setup a capitalistic society computers and globalization that we see today didn't really exist. Over the last few decades you've seen single individuals take small ideas and make them billion dollar a year world-wide companies in less than 5-10 years(facebook,twitter, MS, Google, etc).



In the past you could create big companies as well. But the scale of a google with those profit margins would be impossible without hiring a ton of people. eg if google gets a million more customers they need some more servers to handle traffic but that's it really. If somebody selling a physical product had a million new customers it'd create a LOT of jobs AND the profit margin of the company selling physical items would be way less. Extrapolate this out over tons of companies and you have a lot of companies, making a lot of money, not creating a lot of jobs, at huge profit margins that they aren't reinvesting back into the economy.



I'm not saying profit is evil. But the move to automation and huge profit margins that aren't getting reinvested is why we have an unemployment crisis. There's a simple solution, we just tax the profits more and spend it through the govt or through tax breaks. Many people see this as anti-american dream but part of the american dream is the ability to get a job as well. We have millions of people sitting around unproductive not benefiting society when there's things they could be doing

Answer 2

Why is it that any criticism of the system today is being construed as an attack on the very idea of capitalism?



I don't think profit is evil. I don't think surgeons should make the same salary as garbagemen.



What I don't think is right, or sustainable, is that profit margins should increase, while salaries remain stagnant.

I don't think any executive is worth in an hour what their average worker is worth in a month.

I don't think it's sane that a single family in America (the Waltons) can accumulate as much wealth as 30% of the population.

Not to mention the endemic corruption in the system as money is now a tool to buy and sell politicians



Yes, by all means. You have an idea, you market it, you work hard. The system should rewards you for that. No problem.

But that shouldn't entitle you to the whole damn cake and it should especially not entitle you to decide how the whole system works for the guy who comes after you and tries to do the same thing.

Answer 3

No one says profits are wrong, let alone evil. Thats a false belief of the right.

As to it being none of our business...well not so much, it becomes our business when we give them tax breaks or subsidies to take certain actions that benefit the country in general, like increasing employment or keeping their facilities in this country.

The cost of doing business is a tax deduction.



If we keep giving them the subsidies or deductions when they aren't doing what we gave them those subsidies and deductions for, then they should be removed. If they want to sit on their profits and not invest in either people or machinery, that's fine, but why continue to plump up their cushions at the expense of the public? If they don't take our money, they can do whatever they want, then it is none of our business. Till then it is.



But no, its not evil, its not even bad, money is money in and of itself its not got a morality.

Answer 4

Lib here - profit is good



But profits based on breaking up companies and shipping jobs to China like Romney did are not good.

but new products that people want - cool



Much rather work at a profitable company than one not making money





I hope this was of use

Answer 5

You aren't going to get any answers from people who actually believe profit is evil. This is because strawmen only exist in the minds of the people who made them up. There are no real strawmen out there on Y! answers who can answer this question. They only exist in your mind and the minds of other delusional cons.

Answer 6

I never understood people with this argument. If you don't like being low on the food chain, then go work your way to the top. That's why capitalism works, because it creates competition, and forces people to strive and go up.

Answer 7

Simple, you say that I believe that I perceive profit or money as evil? But I don't therefor your argument is invalid. Good day sir.

Answer 8

Profit is bad because it does not allow for spreading of the wealth. I blame Bush personally for America being so greedy and racist.

Answer 9

I view companies as dangerous, not evil...



Because the ones that commit atrocities get away with it, why?



Because they're rich... no other reason.



The absolute worst capitalism has to offer.

Answer 10

You're right, "they can spend that in a wide variety of way's" However, they don't.



Corporations are setting on record profits while slashing wages and cutting benefits.



The problem isn't the profit, it's the greed, the lust for excess profit.

Answer 11

Well, I don't. I live in the world of reality.

Answer 12

Ed Shultz, Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow and Rev Al told me it was.