Comments on: What If Being Good Were Made Profitable? http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/24/what-if-being-good-were-made-profitable/ Promoting a fierce but respectful dialogue among the highly diverse youth of the Middle East Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:54:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=3943 By: Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/24/what-if-being-good-were-made-profitable/#comment-139094 Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:47:15 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/24/what-if-being-good-were-made-profitable/#comment-139094 Elinor, people do a lot of bad things in the name of profits. You're right to think that. But is it just possible that the kind of problems that we're now facing will require certain kinds of solutions, which in turn will require a great deal of global cooperation? And the only way I know to get people to cooperate on such a massive scale is to introduce a profit motive, because nothing gets their attention like making money. Therefore, in order to save ourselves, we will have to work together to unprecedented levels, and the only motivation that could move us to do that is the profit motive. A truly global economy has certain requirements: ever increasing markets, universal access to technology,relatively peaceful relations between nations, a greater supply of trained workers, energy sources which are readily available, a relatively healthy environment, the lack of ideological extremism and terror, a supply of natural resources which is not likely to be depleted, etc. So, if a truly global economy is only possible with these things, and if these things are only possible with global cooperation, and if global cooperation is only possible with highly motivated nations, corporations, and individuals, and if the ultimate motivation is the profit motive, then it makes sense that a global economy could point in the direction of peace, and respect for the environment, if for nothing else, then to allow people around the world to make money off of one another. I'm not saying that people will actually be this logical. But this is one scenario worth considering. And if it works, we will become good despite oursleves, and inspite of our less than honorable motivations. Elinor, people do a lot of bad things in the name of profits. You’re right to think that. But is it just possible that the kind of problems that we’re now facing will require certain kinds of solutions, which in turn will require a great deal of global cooperation? And the only way I know to get people to cooperate on such a massive scale is to introduce a profit motive, because nothing gets their attention like making money.

Therefore, in order to save ourselves, we will have to work together to unprecedented levels, and the only motivation that could move us to do that is the profit motive.

A truly global economy has certain requirements: ever increasing markets, universal access to technology,relatively peaceful relations between nations, a greater supply of trained workers, energy sources which are readily available, a relatively healthy environment, the lack of ideological extremism and terror, a supply of natural resources which is not likely to be depleted, etc.

So, if a truly global economy is only possible with these things, and if these things are only possible with global cooperation, and if global cooperation is only possible with highly motivated nations, corporations, and individuals, and if the ultimate motivation is the profit motive, then it makes sense that a global economy could point in the direction of peace, and respect for the environment, if for nothing else, then to allow people around the world to make money off of one another.

I’m not saying that people will actually be this logical. But this is one scenario worth considering. And if it works, we will become good despite oursleves, and inspite of our less than honorable motivations.

]]> By: elinor(Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/24/what-if-being-good-were-made-profitable/#comment-139029 elinor(Iran) Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:14:00 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/24/what-if-being-good-were-made-profitable/#comment-139029 Nissim, I wish being bad wouldn't be profitable to begin with :) but people need to profit, being bad or being good, they are once bad and they make profit, they are good and they make profit as well, but I admit being good is much less profitable, at least in a linear manner... :) Nissim,
I wish being bad wouldn’t be profitable to begin with :) but people need to profit, being bad or being good, they are once bad and they make profit, they are good and they make profit as well, but I admit being good is much less profitable, at least in a linear manner… :)

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