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Amazon VP Resigns, Calls Company ‘Chickenshit’ for Firing Protesting Workers

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Re: Amazon VP Resigns, Calls Company ‘Chickenshit’ for Firing Protesting Workers

#21
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Prussian military, British military, French military. I am speaking about middle ages to modern era. A lot of management and scientific progress happened there, and it was a way for the lower classes to rise in a more meritocratic way. It was also a mechanism to learn sailing skills so you could become a trading merchant.

So basically, you are willing to sell your morals for scientific progress in the name of helping people? You sound conflicted.

I don't think it is possible to live your life entirely pure based on your morals. This is a philosophical question. It is possible to work for Amazon today or the large corporation of the past, and not be entirely morally OK with the situation. Many aspects of life are the same, unless you are a monk.

Re: Amazon VP Resigns, Calls Company ‘Chickenshit’ for Firing Protesting Workers

#22
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So basically, you are willing to sell your morals for scientific progress in the name of helping people? You sound conflicted.

I don't think it is possible to live your life entirely pure based on your morals. This is a philosophical question. It is possible to work for Amazon today or the large corporation of the past, and not be entirely morally OK with the situation. Many aspects of life are the same, unless you are a monk.

"We can have all the morals, we can afford." - my old minister

Re: Amazon VP Resigns, Calls Company ‘Chickenshit’ for Firing Protesting Workers

#26
post #11

In my opinion, it won’t do anyone any good for him to quit “in solidarity with” the fired workers. If he wants the situation to improve, he should remain VP and use his power to help make things better. Now he‘ll probably just be replaced with someone who is less sympathetic to the workers.

This is a flawed rationalization that keeps the status quo, if your force commits nothing to the work, you move.

Re: Amazon VP Resigns, Calls Company ‘Chickenshit’ for Firing Protesting Workers

#27
post #25

Why does big always become evil?

Human nature organizing itself within a legal and economic framework. Don't like the result, fix the frameworks.

A quote I never get tired of using is, "Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand." If you can, be the change.

Re: Amazon VP Resigns, Calls Company ‘Chickenshit’ for Firing Protesting Workers

#29
post #25

Why does big always become evil?

My bet is that it was always evil, no one noticed because they were distracted by the amazing customer focus and service.

Google may have touted the "do no evil" matra, but looking back, their plan was always to look over your shoulder. Nothing Google did was ever altruistic, and I think Amazon was and is the same way.

Re: Amazon VP Resigns, Calls Company ‘Chickenshit’ for Firing Protesting Workers

#30
post #25

Why does big always become evil?

This is just how capitalism works. It's about allocating capital in the most efficient way, and as far as Amazon is concerned workers are a dime a dozen. If workers complain, you can just fire them and hire someone else to do the job. This is especially true right now with the high unemployment rate.

If workers really want to improve their situation they would all need to unionize. It would require a significant portion of the workers to join, or else Amazon can just keep firing and replacing people. While I'm certainly pro-worker and pro-union, I think most of the demonstrations have been a tiny number of workers relative to Amazon's whole workforce.

Keep in mind that in the US there's a negative stigma attached to unionization thanks to many years of propaganda from "business leaders" who (obviously) are opposed to unionization because it eats into their profits.

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