Posted by MikeK on 02/03/2022 21:34:08:
Posted by Hopper on 02/03/2022 21:14:25:
Posted by MikeK on 02/03/2022 19:48:47:
Corporations have no incentive to protect the environment. Heads of corporations that *don't* try to maximize profit get fired…happens all the time. They have to be forced to do things via regulations. They're not including a manual as a means to save money.
Under the laws of corporate governance those heads are legally required to make all decisions in the shareholders' best interests — which legally means maximize profit, maximize profit, or maximize profit.
That was my point.
I guess my point was that it's not just the heads of corporations to blame. They are compelled by corporate governance laws to act that way — although they probably don't need much encouragement. The focus on profit over all else is institutionalized in our legal systems and ergo the governments that legislate them. The days of companies having any consideration for the community are long gone — by law.
If a corporation finds a way to cut costs by dumping waste into a river that complies with the pollution laws, but creates an unpleasant smell or other side effects for the small town downstream of their factory, they are compelled by the laws of corporate governance to decide to legally dump their waste in the river regardless of the community objections. Shareholders' interests by law must come ahead of the local community's.
Same thing if they can cut costs by not printing a manual. And these days, those who do print an instruction sheet seem to make it so small I need a magnifying glass to read it anyway, so an online option would be easier. A sad state of affairs to be sure.