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The issue with all of these major companies will forever be their "product". --- From: Silicon Valley (HBO) Jack: Richard, I don't think you understand what t

The issue with all of these major companies will forever be their "product". --- From: Silicon Valley (HBO) Jack: Richard, I don't think you understand what the product is. The product isn't the platform, and the product isn't your algorithm, either. And it's not even the software. Do you know what Pied Piper's product is, Richard? Richard: Is... Is it me? Jack: Oh God! No! No. How could it possibly be you? You got fired. Pied Piper's product is its stock. --- When the only product a company cares about its stock, and they only care about their accountability to the shareholders, we will continue to see mass tax evasion schemes and using any/all methodologies (including illegal/unethical) to maximize profits.

make3 9y ago
wtf does this even mean. companies will always care about profitability for their owners. that's the whole point of starting and having a business
- deleted 9y ago
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- Xylakant 9y ago
  How is this the whole point of starting a business? Elon Musk is often quoted as using Tesla as a mean to promote electric transportation. Corporate structures that may never pay dividends to the owners such as gGmbH (gemeinnützige GmbH) exist and get used in practice. There’s a ton of reasons to start a business, shaving off the absolute maximum in profits is just one.
  - imaginenore 9y ago
    Musk said multiple times that all his non-SpaceX businesses are just means of getting humans to Mars. The electric transport and solar energy / storage indeed have nice side effects, but they are not his final goal.
  - kungito 9y ago
    What Elon Musk is doing is called amazing PR and guerilla marketing. I wish it wasn't so but I'm eagerly waiting to be corrected
justacat 9y ago
This is, unfortunately, very insightful, and also a very unfortunate persistent state of affairs. I wonder how differently the world would look if companies didn't operate like this.

make3 9y ago

wtf does this even mean. companies will always care about profitability for their owners. that's the whole point of starting and having a business

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
Xylakant 9y ago
How is this the whole point of starting a business? Elon Musk is often quoted as using Tesla as a mean to promote electric transportation. Corporate structures that may never pay dividends to the owners such as gGmbH (gemeinnützige GmbH) exist and get used in practice. There’s a ton of reasons to start a business, shaving off the absolute maximum in profits is just one.
- imaginenore 9y ago
  Musk said multiple times that all his non-SpaceX businesses are just means of getting humans to Mars. The electric transport and solar energy / storage indeed have nice side effects, but they are not his final goal.
- kungito 9y ago
  What Elon Musk is doing is called amazing PR and guerilla marketing. I wish it wasn't so but I'm eagerly waiting to be corrected

justacat 9y ago

This is, unfortunately, very insightful, and also a very unfortunate persistent state of affairs. I wonder how differently the world would look if companies didn't operate like this.