A lot of healthy industries have been destroyed by insane expectations of ever-expanding quarterly growth.
You don't have to tell me. I work at a publically traded retailer, who is currently stressing and restressing that each of us squeeze the last penny out of the customer that we can.
I've pushed back on this as much as I can, but I'm already starting to hear grumbles from my managers over my performance. I haven't thrown the NYT in WWI example at them yet, and I'm keeping my mouth shut (at work) about the low regard in which I hold shareholders. (To me, they're no more than gamblers and deserve as much consideration. I've heard the "boss who signs your check" already, but as it wasn't directed at me, I haven't replied, "it's the customer who funds the payroll account and the customer is the only one with any choice in this equation. That should be a fun conversation.) "It Can't Be Just About Us"--Frank Schnittger, ETian Extraordinaire
Too many people in the US believe that businesses should be run as feudal mini-states, and the owner is literally a king. When customers shop, they're nominally guests, but in fact they're really there to pay tribute. (This pretty much explains everything about how IBM, Microsoft, and other corporates do business.)
The concept of symmetrical obligation seems almost completely alien to the Anglo outlook. Whenever it's suggested it's labelled 'socialism' and greeted with grunting, hooting and pointing, shit flinging and simian hysterics.
The US will continue down its fail spiral until a majority of the population outgrows this outlook.
