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Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

nytimes.com

11–20 of 113 posts

Re: Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

#11
The extremely wealthy keep talking about how to tackle inequality, many of them pledge to do something about it but nothing ever happens.

We all know how this plays out, we'll get lip service until we start to kill the rich. Then they'll apologize, reform, and do it a little more subtly next time.

Re: Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

#13
post #12

This is easy for Benioff to say because he's already wealthy. Let's table this until such a time as I become wealthy too. After that we can talk about dismantling capitalism.

I unironically agree. Either nobody is rich, or we all have the opportunity to get rich. I will not settle for inequality which is what is proposed under the hood by this author.

Re: Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

#14
post #11

The extremely wealthy keep talking about how to tackle inequality, many of them pledge to do something about it but nothing ever happens. We all know how this plays out, we'll get lip service until we start to kill the rich. Then they'll apologize, reform, and do it a little more subtly next time.

Killing the rich and seizing their property always turns out well for the everyday joe and never creates a generation of ultra wealthy and corrupt ruling class /s

Wait you didn’t think YOU were going to get that stuff did you?

Re: Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

#15
He identified the problem being "companies shouldn't wait for government to take action".

Then, he proposed solutions that still seem to involve increasing taxes.

If government is inefficient in allocation of resources and has disincentivizes to actually solve problems in reasonable timelines with reasonable red tape, then perhaps letting private companies take on improving infrastructure or providing care easier might be a good solution.

Look city governments have huge cash chests: neither homelessness nor poverty had ever been addressed by throwing government/money at these problems. You need the right inventives to tackle these challenges. And frankly governments need to reduce the friction in terms of money allocation and regulations to get things done.

Re: Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

#16
Sure it would be great for business leaders to change their ways, but the beauty of capitalism is that consumers can force businesses to change by their actions. Mark Zuckerberg could change Facebook overnight, but what incentive does he have? It’s still one of the most populous websites in the world.

It’s easy to blame to rich and wealthy for the problems but they cannot force us to give them money. Every time I buy Facebook ads, I’m telling Mark that it’s okay for him to continue what he’s doing.

It’s very fun these days to blame the 1% for societies problems. But the 99% enable them.

Re: Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

#17
post #12

This is easy for Benioff to say because he's already wealthy. Let's table this until such a time as I become wealthy too. After that we can talk about dismantling capitalism.

He's not wrong. Most ideas for fixing capitalism will lead to fewer grossly wealthy people. Many rich people support this despite the fact that it will make them less wealthy.

Re: Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

#18
post #3

> When government is unable or unwilling to act, business should not wait. I hope this is all based in good intentions, and have no real reason not to believe so, other than past experience. I just had this idea though: Seeing the current state of US regulatory capture; I wonder what would happen if companies that felt the way Marc Benioff claims he does (as well as the other companies in that roundtable) would just…

At that point you just get paid more to make the wrong decisions again.

Buying the soul of politicians seem to be surprisingly cheap.

Re: Marc Benioff: We Need a New Capitalism

#19
post #10

> Legislation to close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act have stalled in Congress for years, and today women still only make about 80 cents, on average, for every dollar earned by men. But congressional inaction does not absolve companies from their responsibility. Since learning that we were paying women less than men for equal work at Salesforce, we have spent $10.3 million to ensure equal pay; today we conduct annual…

And if you account for other factors, like flexibility and other benefits, you get within the margin of error--women may even out-earn men.

As a rule of thumb, if you would like to not get downvoted for controversial statements, please source your assumptions.
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