Is making profit bad for society?

by Prager University Posted 2012/04/23 19:58:55

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	Yes.	2 votes	5%
	No.	35 votes	90%
	Undecided	2 votes	5%

More polls by Prager University

bags the Indigenous Guru 2012/05/21 20:28:31

Undecided

Profit is fine, unless it comes at the expense of someone else. Free trade isn't fair. Fair trade isn't free.

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Chris - The Rowdy One! #187 2012/05/21 16:27:07

No.

The only requirement is honesty. Aside from that, profit away!

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CREW grand 2012/04/29 06:14:34

Yes.

+1
It is when it's excessive or accomplished through exploitation.
And that's precisely how the vast majority of profits in this world are currently made.

Don

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Chris -... to CREW grand 2012/05/21 16:27:47

Define "excessive".

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akgold to Chris -... 2012/05/21 16:44:53

Define "excessive".

Any that doesn't benefit him personally.

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Chris -... to akgold 2012/05/21 20:14:17

You mean above and beyond basic needs? That is hard to nail down.

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Nameless 2012/04/29 01:50:17

No.

+1
Making a profit is not bad for society UNLESS the company making the profit is taking advantage of society - or any group of people. For instance, there are some companies who have factories in Central American countries, treat the employees badly, and then sell their products in the US. WalMart uses terrible practices in getting their suppliers to provide them with product, then they treat their employees badly - and all in the name of profit. They make a profit at the expense of people. Profit in and of itself is not bad. Treatment is the key.

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Ray the Dog! 2012/04/28 15:34:42

No.

+1
Of course it isn't.People who make profit also provide employment for a great many people.

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Pat 2012/04/28 15:31:30

No.

+2
Making a profit is good for society. The problem is when companies gouge the public with excessive prices and shoddy products. Most of us would be will to pay for something that will perform as expected and last for decent period of time. A lot of times, we purchase something and it doesn't do what it was advertized to do or it breaks or malfunctions. We waste a lot of money on junk.

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Brightsprite62 2012/04/24 13:22:25

No.

+2
Increased profit, Increased business, Increased work load, increased hiring, Decreased unemployment.

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James 2012/04/24 02:45:02

No.

+2
That's why we have capitalist societies....

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Tomus Megalomania 2012/04/23 23:54:25 (edited)

Undecided

It depends on the values of that society and what the profit is used for.

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DM Twin 2012/04/23 22:57:43
flaca BN-0 2012/04/23 22:20:20

No.

but getting a huge salary and bonus for not making a profit is. (and this happens a lot)

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gregaj7 2012/04/23 21:07:37

No.

Necessary.

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FeedFwd 2012/04/23 21:04:28

No.

Profit is neither good nor bad for society at large. It tells a business if they are doing the right things or not. Like prices are a sign to market participants, profits are a sign to business owners that tends to redirect economic activity toward more consumer satisfying and wealth creating ventures.

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Jackie G - Poker Playing Pa... 2012/04/23 20:59:03

No.

+2
Good grief - that is how things grow, jobs happen, and wealth is created.

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Hula girl - Friends not Fol... 2012/04/23 20:56:34

No.

+3
How do you run a business without a profit? You don't.

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FeedFwd to Hula gi... 2012/04/23 20:57:33

+1
Why would you run a business without profit? You wouldn't.

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bob 2012/04/23 20:55:28

No.

+1
I went into business or employment to make a profit. It's only bad if you make a profit by destroying the environment or others around you.

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safari 2012/04/23 20:55:09

No.

I'm just scratching my head wondering why any university would as such a question. Are you full of Marxist professors looking for point by point list for rebuttals or what? Without the motivation of profit - what is the point of going through the efforts to work and save and there would never be a reason to financially take a risk. Without profit - we all stay in bed every day looking for a gov hand out or wander the streets looking for that poor bastard that made one so we can demand that he share with us.

Seriously this is one of the dumbest questions I've ever seen - that it comes from a university makes it all the worse.

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FeedFwd to safari 2012/04/23 21:00:13

+2
I think Prager University is sort of like the Limbaugh Institute. A fiction created by a radio talking head to add a little humor into his schtick. Hardly Marxist.

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safari to FeedFwd 2012/04/24 00:07:43

+1
Thanks! I knew I'd never heard of it but wasn't willing to go searching. That actually makes me feel a little better about it. lol But still - why ask????????

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FeedFwd to safari 2012/04/24 14:48:10

+1
Some people who are opposed to free market economics ask all the time. Prager wanted to put Dr Williams answer out there, so he asked the question even though he knew the answer. It's what might be called a teaching device.

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Rusty Bubbles 2012/04/23 20:26:34

Yes.

+1
For starters, I checked "NO"

Businesses are started out of greed, from the corner lemonade stand to the Microsoft's of the world. And this greed needs to be regulated to a certain degree, It's a balancing act,
too much regulation stifles business growth, too little leads to abuse.

I do not have the answer to where the balance point is......but it certainly isn't being used

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The Sane One 2012/04/23 20:18:50

No.

+2
https://www.facebook.com/?ref...

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Fire&Ice 2012/04/23 20:18:24

No.

+3
People go into business to turn a profit
They reinvest some of that profit to grow the company, and hire more people.
The higher the profits are, the more people it benefits.

If companies don't turn a profit, they go out of business and people lose their jobs.... unless it's GM and a dick-tater takes them over using working people's money.

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VoteOut 2012/04/23 20:15:57

No.

+1
as compared to what losing money?

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SoCal71 2012/04/23 20:08:21 (edited)

No.

+2
.. but redistributing that profit to people who didn't earn or deserve it is...

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Rusty Shackleford 2012/04/23 20:06:12

No.

+5
Capitalism has done more to raise people out of poverty than any other economic system.

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Simmering Frog 2012/04/23 20:04:46

No.

+7
Profit it good. With profit, companies create things like:

1. The MRI.
2. New oil drilling techniques.
3. Advances in medicine.
4. Advances in aviation.
5. New drugs to treat cancer.
6. Advances in automobile technology.

Profits are a good thing.

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Zuggi 2012/04/23 20:02:39

No.

+3
That's an almost idiotic question.

No, wait. Take out the almost. That's an idiotic question.

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FeedFwd to Zuggi 2012/04/23 21:02:24

+2
So why did you answer? ;)

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