I'm honestly curious what has happened to American businesses?

Question

In the past, American business was based on honesty, hard work, truth, good products, honest living, etc. I know.....not everyone has done this but, by and large, it was the historic norm (nay sayers to the contrary). However, nowadays, USA business is based upon lies, cheat, butt kissing, theft, game playing (one of the biggest being the "be positive" game), office politics, etc. My God, no wonder people are beginning to think (wrongly so) that socialism is better (although that is silly to think). Still, American business thrives (Business 98 remedial here) on a few hard workers whom fear for their jobs daily (I was there amongst many) whilst the majority are lazy dirty dogs (employees whom steal, lie, etc. and employers whom want you to have 5 Ph.D.s, 30 yrs. experiece, an MD with Speciality and not be over 40). What has happened? I can see the deadly result of Evolutionary Capitalism (versus Bible Based living that used to be....but now decried). But, what else is it?

I appreciate the most recent attempt at answering the question; however, that answer is only one small equation to the troubles. My "gut" says something deeper is going on. Sure, I know that socialistic dumb thinking has come in and made "business" look terrible to practice. They said they'd do that and they've lived up to that promise....sad to say. Regardless, still, that does not account for the lack of ethics in our work force. At one time in US history, Unions (now gone bad) had to protect the workers; then, laws had to be made to protect the companies (the tide swung the opposite way, at that time). Now, "business" is just "dog eat dog" (evol. capitalixm)(just watch Donald Chumps show). All sides are gone afoul. What's up?

Thus far, no real help. Hmmmm, I guess I hit a nerve of truth. Anyway, to add more, I've noticed that places like Career Builders, and such are putting out "data" that just isn't realistic to the real work force market (& I've told them so!) Hard work DOES NOT pay off and get attention (well, .the real way it's seen is this: "If you're stupid enough to work hard, I'm smart enough to take advantage of you, idiot"....that's real life). In real life, the "be positive" & "team player" games equal, "BUTT KISSERS." Companies don't even believe this junk. Too, retirement is no longer that. The old days of "real" retirement systems are gone. Now, you have to have a Philie Lawyer to explain the junk they send to you (I've seen Ph.Ds toss it away since they can't figure it out!), and one needs to enlist the aid of financial advisors. Yet, these rip off companies act all smiles & picture "happy families" on literatures as if they've "improved" things, a joke! Liars. & benefits? Same.

Again, I am grateful that someone has stepped up to the plate to defend "capitalism." I agree that it is the best system and DO understand it (true Capitalism, that is, and not Evolutionary Capitalism...but, rather, that based on Bible Living and Honesty). Howbeit, to blame "government" is still only part of the equation of error. Sure, it's is a problem. While working, the company I worked for faced many fed. laws they had to navigate under. BUT, blaming "big bad gov." isn't the answer to this ethics problem with employers/employees. Yes, I've seen gov. businesses, I've seen private business operated by gov., and seen purely private businesses. ALL face ethics problems! While I completely disagree with it, I can begin to understand why some have gone post (too bad they hurt the innocent instead of the malfactors, but, that is NOT to say it is right even if so done). Still, I can see the reason for the tensions. People are fed up. Yes, Capitalism is great but has been replaced.

It seems this one is going nowhere. Still, things added may trigger some truthful responses. In our workforce today, we are facing the "expendable employee" mentality. It is all part of this lack of business ethics. Loyality, I and others have sadly found, is unilateral: to the company only. Yet, it is forgotten that everyone needs each other. No one is an island. NO ONE is self-made. Doesn't exist. An owner needs his/her employees and they, in turn, need the owner; then, all these, in turn, need the consumer (who doesn't need them if competition exists). So, owner/employee together work to market that which is needed. But, instead, what IS is the toss away employee attitude. An employee is but a monkey. It's disrespectful and disloyal. Company ethics (policies to the contrary) are lost. My old company had self-esteem classes....HAAAA! What a joke! They didn't believe in it. So, again, what gives? If it continues, sadly, then, we deserve to lose to foreign interests.

Answer 1

the death throes of bureauocratic bloat.

See "Free Agent Nation" by Daniel Pink.

Answer 2

"All the evils, abuses, and inequities, popularly ascribed to businessmen and to capitalism, were not caused by an unregulated economy or by a free market, but by government intervention into the economy. The giants of American industry - such as James Jerome Hill or Commodore Vanderbilt or Andrew Carnegie or J.P. Morgan - were self-made men who earned their fortunes by personal ability, by free trade on a free market. But there existed another kind of businessmen, the products of a mixed economy, the men with political pull, who made fortunes by means of special privileges granted to them by the government, such men as the Big Four of the Central Pacific Railroad. It was the political power behind their activities - the power of the forced, unearned, economically unjustified privileges - that caused dislocations in the country's economy, hardships, depressions, and mounting public protests. But it was the free market and the free businessmen that took the blame."

"As a group, businessmen have been withdrawing for decades from the ideological battlefield, disarmed by the deadly combination of altruism and Pragmatism. Their public policy has consisted in appeasing, compromising and apologizing: appeasing their crusdest, lousdest antagonists; compromising with any attack, any lie, any insult; apologizing for their own existence. Abandoning the field of ideas to their enemies, they have been relying on lobbying, i.e., on private manipulations, on pull, on seeking momentary favors from government officials. Today, the last group one can expect to fight for capitalism is the capitalists."

I am a businessman and a capitalist. If you truly wish to understand, what IS capitalism, then you must study the philosophical roots of capitalism. Why America itself is philosophically bankrupt and why "capitalism" is the only system that can save it.