CompuServe Messages

Joe, I can see that you're an intelligent person and honestly, many of your statements can't be argued. In theory that is. You see, many of the things you say are true on a certain scale but I think you've lost track of the big picture. Sure the theory of capitalism embraces the wonderful idea of why you and I are in business at all. But, It can be and is abused! I'm not going to try to take this conversation astray but let me speak of the business that I'm familiar with, computer animation. We go through struggles everyday with prices of software and hardware alike. We try to reason with the fact of prices in the industry and we assume that these prices are justified due to research and development. Then along comes Mr. Gates and takes a software package that retails for 17,000.00 and chops it to 7,995.00. Sure, many people are happy but what about the guy who took out a 4 year lease two years ago. He still owes a good 9,000.00 on a package that sells new for 8,000.00. It makes you ask the question, Did they really need to charge 17,000.00 all those years to cover costs? Bill doesn't think so. Don't forget they haven't exactly gone out of business. They've still got to consider the price of future research and development but, Bill can do it at half the cost. I'm sure it's not out of the kindness of his heart, he sees that there's money to be made in volume. Some might say he's ruining the industry but those who are truly talented shouldn't be threatened. Anyway, it just goes to show that it's not necessary to charge the outrageous prices for "technology" because the truth is that, relatively, it really doesn't cost that much to design and implement. Some people like yourself are overwhelmed by these words "research & development, marketing, payroll", etc. The truth is that they represent much less of the costs than you give them credit for. I'm a president of a company. I'm dedicated to doing things a little different. I spent years as a union representative at AT&T. I witnessed the irony of it all in the corporate world. What I learned was that you don't have to screw people to make a buck. You can spread the wealth a little and still have enough to make yourself happy. If you're not a greedy bastard, that is. You don't have a problem with people making 2 or 3 million a year??? There is no man alive that's efforts alone are worth that. Be it a CEO or professional football player. Would he have generated the capital without the people underneath him? Would the great quaterback have made the unbelievable pass without a great receiver? and what about the linemanwho blocked for him and let him get open to make the catch? NO. And who deserves credit for these things? The CEO?? The quarterback?? No. Again, other people under him, along with him I should say. All part of a team, Except there is no team anymore. There is no team effort. Only greedy bastards who steal the glory and wealth from the people who actually make the company a success. Continue on with your beliefs Joe, but I and my company see things a different way I'm happy to say and I believe that this will continue to make our company a success. When I go to sleep at night, I know that the people working for me are thinking of ways to make our products better and our company more successful because they're treated and paid well for what they do. And believe it or not, I don't have to pass all of the costs along to our clients. I can wait for wealth. I'm not going to try to milk my market dry the first day. That's the point I'm trying to make. While you're right in saying that these corporations have a right to cover costs and make a profit. Take a long hard look at the profits they're making along with the executive's salaries and tell me that they couldn't have given just a little more to their faithful consumers who are not quite as big and successful as they. Capitalism??? No. Just greedy bastards, Joe. You've been sucked in, Joe, to the theory of it all but you overlooked the reality and the real numbers. You label it capitalism but it's really an insult to capitalism.