Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Where's the Patriotism, Corporations?

As the oil prices go through the stratosphere, perhaps we would do well to hearken back to yesteryear - those golden days of the "Greatest Generation". World War II.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we ask a good deal, not of just our citizens, but our corporations?

In fact, business itself was supportive of price controls during wartime. War profiteering was simply not to be done - to be even thought of was dangerous and unpatriotic for business in those times, endangering their relationships with their customers. We are constantly told that normal liberties need to be curtailed during wartime. How about the liberty to take financial advantage of death and destruction? That is not only morally grotesque, but how far removed is that from encouraging continued death and destruction for continued larger-than-normal profits?

War profiteering was thought of as treasonous during World War II. Now, it's applauded as the triumph of the free market and the American Way.

1 comment:

DivaJood said...

Just read an article about the world's tallest ice sculpture at Ski Dubai. It's a replica of Burj Al Alam, the world's tallest commercial building. They've put it in the Mall of the Emirates -- I've got the full article on my blog -- I'm sure that Rummy and Condi will hop on over, once they're done with their vacation to Iraq. And, yep, me & my hybrid are getting 40 mpg in the city. Still paying $3.11 at the pump though.