Klarinet Archive - Posting 000535.txt from 1999/11

From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Lars Kirmser's Wisdom
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 01:42:15 -0500

I agree fully with Lars' comments and would like to add the following:

I have wanted to reply numerous times when someone has bashed corporations
and equated the profit motive with greed.

Those who feel this way should note the following statement made by Samuel
Gompers regarding profits:

"The greatest sin that a business can commit against its workers is to fail
to make a profit."

Without profit, there is no product, if there is no product, there are no
jobs. If profit cannot by restored, the business ceases to exist and there
are no jobs for any of its employees. While this is a simplification, it is
also a basic truism.

For those who aren't up on the labor history of our country, the following
entry from "The Columbia Viking Desk Encyclopedia" concerning Mr. Gompers
reads as follows:

"Gompers, Samuel 1850-1924, American labor leader, born in London. Helped
found(1881) the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, which
became (1886) the American Federation of Labor, of which he was president,
except for 1895, until his death. He rejected cooperative business plans
and socialist or radical programs, maintaining that the just aims of labor
were simply shorter hours, more wages and greater freedom."

My purpose in posting this is not to start a non-clarinet thread or to
generate flames. I merely want to remind our members of this important
statement made by Mr. Gompers when they are inclined to attack profits.

Anyone wishing to ague with Mr. Gompers is out of luck. If anyone wants to
argue with me, please e-mail me privately so as not to continue a
non-clarinet thread on klarinet.

Gene Nibbelin

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