Bird Droppings September 12, 2010
Humanistic Capitalism

“Corporations must assume an active responsibility for creating a healthy society and a habitable planet—not as a gesture to improve corporate image or as a moralistically undertaken responsibility, but because it is the only reasonable long-run interpretation of ‘good business.’ In the end, good business policy must become one with good social policy.” Willis Harman, Humanistic Capitalism: Another Alternative, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Vol. 14, No. 1, Winter 1974

Is this even a possibility that a corporation would deliberately work to benefit its people and the environment? Would it be possible that a company would not solely operate to generate grossly inflated profits for its share holders who have nothing to do with the company other than buy stock which is purely speculative? As I sit here on a bright Sunday morning wondering after thinking about the idea of could there be ethical capitalism. I may have come to this discussion in talking with my son about a local company in his town that left when the employees unionized and moved the facility to another state leaving one thousand people unemployed. It could have been perhaps a conversation starting with a one hundred fifty million dollar bonus and salary to my health care insurance company CEO did nothing for my own health care except raise my premiums and I was called a socialist for not excepting capitalism. I am amazed at how we have allowed as a society this to happen.

“And while the law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department.” Andrew Carnegie

I actually started looking at Social Darwinism that states a similar line to Carnegie. No one else matters but the winner. As I looked deeper in my research and found a few more of Andrew Carnegie’s thoughts it was more of the same.

“Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.” Andrew Carnegie

“Every act you have ever performed since the day you were born was performed because you wanted something.” Andrew Carnegie

I have written numerous times about how greed seems to over power and take control in a society gone totally oriented around money and power. Reality shows add to the confusion as kids grow up watching rich teens squander money and very rich adults buy fifty million dollars worth of imported marble for the bar in their hundred foot yacht. It would be easy to say not having a lot of money makes one angry but the point for me is when is it enough. I have helped feed hungry families and house homeless families and seen how far some of our neighbors have had to go to survive. I have helped the disabled apply for and hopefully receive benefits while some people complain about entitlements should be cut and some say even banned all together.

“A second characteristic of the process which for me is the good life, is that it involves an increasingly tendency to live fully in each moment. I believe it would be evident that for the person who was fully open to his new experience, completely without defensiveness, each moment would be new.” Dr. Carl Rodgers

While Rodgers is controversial as I read tonight trying to write read and watch “Date Night”, with my family this thought is significant to me. I thought about how a recent talk with a parent about listening to a coach of six year olds yell and scream at these little kids during a t-ball game and then the parents ask for him to be removed as coach a bit refreshing.

“Children were taught that true politeness was to be defined in actions rather than in words. They were never allowed to pass between the fire and the older person or a visitor, to speak while others were speaking, or to make fun of a crippled or disfigured person. If a child thoughtlessly tried to do so, a parent, in a quiet voice, immediately set him right. Expressions such as “excuse me,” “pardon me,” and “so sorry” now so often lightly and unnecessarily used, are not in the Lakota language. If one chanced to injure or cause inconvenience to another wanunhecun, or “mistake,” was spoken. This was sufficient to indicate that no discourtesy was intended and that what happened was accidental. Our young people, raised under old rules of courtesy, never indulged in the present habit of talking incessantly and all at the same time. To do so would have been not only impolite, but foolish; for poise, so much admired as a social grace, could not be accompanied by restlessness. Pauses were acknowledged gracefully and did not cause lack of ease or embarrassment.” Chief Luther Standing Bear

It has been so many years since I coached basketball in Macon Georgia and one of the facility’s we played in was an old school gym. The gym was small and had no room inside for parents to sit. Instead they would have t stand outside to yell and scream. This small gym was where all the kids liked playing the best. We instill so early this idea of competition and winning at any cost. Sadly it reflects in all we do and literally infects all phases of our society.
“Just Enough Profit is defined as: Profit that is gained honorably, respectfully, and preserves human dignity; the purposeful distribution of a company’s profits to: promote a higher standard of living for employees, create fulfilling jobs, reduce prices, encourage shareholder philanthropy, and spawn other types of pro bono contributions to society. It also promotes financial openness and transparency.” JEP Foundation
I wonder if one day we could get away from seeking the American dream of Andrew Carnegie since he was only interested in reaching it for himself and anyone in the way was defeated through survival of the fittest.

“With Just Enough Profit, there’s an appropriate balance between three components: consumers and customers come first, employees are second, and the owners and shareholders come last. With this model, everyone wins—customers receive a better product at a lower price, employees receive a fulfilling and rewarding place to work, and shareholders lift humanity and make the world a better place to live.” JEP Foundation

Idealistically perhaps as I read about humanistic capitalism I am wandering into an area that while to me holds some merit will not fly with those who seek to have everything and all at once. I talked with a friend about what about going back to subsistence living and get away from the craziness of our societies grab for greed and power. I am on my way at least with herbs and medicinal plants. It has been an interesting day news wise and around the nation we have various groups trying to grab the spot light from each other. I wish there was a way of removing the greed gene from human beings. Please my friends keep all in harms way on your minds and in your hearts.
namaste
bird