On Dec 22, 2011, at 12:34 PM, Tom C wrote: >> Now, they're even trying to outsource writing software. At the moment, the >> problem is that few of the Asian programmers have the necessary >> mindset to write code well. Then there is the disconnect from managing >> projects with teams 8-12 timezones apart. Eventually, the software culture >> will develop in Asia while fewer and fewer American kids learn how to >> program, and we'll be left wondering how to support ourselves, with nobody >> left >> qualified to design or manufacture anything in this country. >> >> In the meantime, we can get stuff cheap at Wal-Mart. >> >> -- >> Larry Colen [email protected] sent from i4est > > . . .
> Communism collapsed under the weight of it's own inefficiency and lack > of moral legitimacy. It's leaders acquired and maintained power and > wealth through fear, and control. > > Capitalism appears to be imploding because it's leaders (business and > political) are more interested in acquiring and maintaining power and > wealth for themselves than in seeing to it that the average person has > the means to make a decent living and provide for their families. It's > quickly losing it's moral legitimacy as well. When capitalism finally > devours the citizens it's built upon, it will be dead. > > Put another way, when inflated self-interest turns into blatant > disinterest in the welfare of others the system becomes strained, and > historically breaks. Amen brother! I teach an online class on Leadership which includes a segment on ethics. Always interesting discussions, across the board on profit vs service. Any organization has many stakeholders including the "owners" (shareholders), The Board (which is supposed to represent shareholder interests but often doesn't), management (which often overlaps with The Board), workers, sub-contractors and suppliers, and the user or beneficiary of the product/service. There is also the community where the work is accomplished, the country where the organization is located. Trying to figure out how to reconcile the demands of so many parties seems beyond many corporate leaders, and they fall back on Profit as the overriding mantra. I have nothing against profit, I think profit is a good thing. I think the problems come when people strive to Maximize profit rather than going for a reasonable profit level while at the same time working on other stakeholder needs. I was heartened to read about the resignation of the AA head recently after they filed for bankruptcy: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/opinion/at-american-airlines-a-departing-ceos-moral-stand.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=gerald%20arpey&st=cse stan -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
