The Occupy Wall Street movement in a nutshell: Life is not a long con and we are not your "marks"

[LuckyTheDog]

Why can't financial institutions, even while they pursue profit, do what they do in a fair and honest way without constantly looking for ways to screw everybody else? At some level, can't we all just kind of be on the same side? Is that too much to ask?

[Arctic Dave]

1. Reminds me of a t-shirt my friend had in the late 80s

"we shouldn't have to fuck each other over to survive".

[Ride4Life627]

2. Because...

Greed rules with an iron fist.

Who cares about the other 99% when your mansion in the Hamptons needs to be redecorated?!

[abelenkpe]

3. Exact opposite of what libertarians want

They want businesses to be free to do to pursue profit

[DJ13]

4. Why?

Because their company is listed on the stock exchange, and the execs of most publicly traded companies get bonuses based solely on the performance of the stock.

That lust for ever larger bonuses leads to short term planning, which results in morally questionable cutting of corners and/or outright violations of the law.

[Atypical Liberal]

5. Because business is completely amoral.

Pursuit of profit is the sole motive. In fact, it is usually a legal requirement that it be the primary motivation, lest the operating officers be guilty of fiduciary negligence of duty.

Where there is no rule of law, corporations will, always use every means to maximize profits.
Where the rule of law holds, corporations will, always use every lawful means to maximize profits.
Where the rule of law holds, will, always use every lawful means to change the laws to their benefit.