Re: [GreenYes] Achieving a sustainable economy

[Jim Mays <jmays@ulster.net>]

It could be looked at as a structural problem: a corporate executive is
only as good as his last quarter. There is no incentive to any value
other than that. [and if it takes cooking books...] If a corporation can
externalize costs, that's to their advantage; if they use a resource to
exhaustion or extinction, then its time to move on to another.
Society responds by regulations. The Clean Air Act, etc.; the laws the
SEC is thought to enforce, and even the tax code.  Heavy handed?
Perhaps, but the best we've come up with.
Could economic/market based incentives work?  Probably best when
coupled with strong regulations.  Sometimes it takes a big stick to
make children eat their carrots.
And our President? The fossil fuel industry appears to have been the
largest single contributor to his election, so he's very sensitive to
their needs. Is this at all surprising? As they say in politics, dance
with them that brought you.
Jim Mays

At 01:35 AM 1/18/02 -0500, Roger Guttentag wrote:
> I think your comments below are
> interesting and constructive.  Is it the
> case that the current structure and function of business corporations
> is
> inherently antagonistic to sustainable commerce?  If so,
> why?

Jim Mays, 2545 County Rt. 3, Olivebridge, NY 12461; 845 657 2013; <jmays@ulster.net>
Always think about those living Down Stream