Socially responsible capitalism is what every country should aspire to - where the uber-wealthy pay their fair share (they don't), corporations pay to clean up the environment they helped trash (they don't), people are paid a living wage (many aren't), decisions are made based on looking holistically at the effect on the community and the environment (rarely happens.) Money, money, money and power, power, power are behind growth, growth, growth. Balance is the key. Too bad there aren't more leaders who believe that.
Earlier this month, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden made headlines by saying his industry should be taxed more on these huge windfall profits they are taking in. ( https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/oct/04/shell-chief-tax-energy-firms-ben-van-beurden-gas-electricity ) He directly told the energy forum he was addressing that there needs to be government action to protect poor people, and people in the room could help pay for it. He's in a position to be that bold because he is stepping down at the end of this year, so he won't have to face shareholder ire about their dividends. But nothing happened. As you said... money, money, money and power, power, power simply ignored him. Perhaps this is one more topic where nothing will happen until it has all gone so far beyond the limits that important things collapse.
Socially responsible capitalism is what every country should aspire to - where the uber-wealthy pay their fair share (they don't), corporations pay to clean up the environment they helped trash (they don't), people are paid a living wage (many aren't), decisions are made based on looking holistically at the effect on the community and the environment (rarely happens.) Money, money, money and power, power, power are behind growth, growth, growth. Balance is the key. Too bad there aren't more leaders who believe that.
Earlier this month, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden made headlines by saying his industry should be taxed more on these huge windfall profits they are taking in. ( https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/oct/04/shell-chief-tax-energy-firms-ben-van-beurden-gas-electricity ) He directly told the energy forum he was addressing that there needs to be government action to protect poor people, and people in the room could help pay for it. He's in a position to be that bold because he is stepping down at the end of this year, so he won't have to face shareholder ire about their dividends. But nothing happened. As you said... money, money, money and power, power, power simply ignored him. Perhaps this is one more topic where nothing will happen until it has all gone so far beyond the limits that important things collapse.