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Originally Posted by YTNUKLR
What my long-winded answer really is trying to say is, yes, it's the social responsibility of business to increase its profits--because it's got a comparative advantage at making wealth vs. the average joe.
However, at some point, one must ask him/herself, what is all this money good for? Just acquiring more money always? We have to look to the marginal utility of any given dollar. If the dollar will go a lot farther in someone else's hands, maybe the profit-taking should be momentarily reconsidered. Look at the U.S. Government--it's currently finding that a dollar is more marginally beneficial in the hands of a consumer versus its own government spending, so it gives out tax rebates (even to people who didn't pay taxes!).
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What do people (or corporations) do with all that money? The answer is that it doesn't really matter that much. If a billionaire is a miser and socks his money away in a bank, there is more money to lend. Interest rates fall and home buyers and small businesses benefit. If the billionaire prefers to buy cars and airplanes, he's directly stimulating the economy. In short, the acquisition of wealth generally benefits society in a very effective way. The portion corporations and wealthy individuals pay in federal taxes is probably much less effective.