We are understandably proud of the achievements of American business

[KlatooBNikto]

over the years in bringing prosperity to the masses. But the downside of this accomplishment, IMO, is the pervasiveness of the business ethos throughout our society.By this I mean even in matters affecting
public health,education, arts, we are constantly being bombarded to show cost/benefit analyses. How can one show the benefit of having a population that is healthy in terms of dollars and cents?Or for that matter, what the spending on education for our children will yield twenty years later?

I think in matters like these we must develop a consensus that no matter what there are certain things that need to be done regardless of what they cost and what our current knowledge tells us the future benefits may be.I think this revamping of our attitude will, in the end, benefit all of us.

[Castilleja]

1. Yes, you are right

The business model seems best suited for business, and matters where money is the only real consideration. It doesn't seem to take into account the long view, esp. in public health and education.

[lostinacause]

4. There is no such thing as a “business model”

in terms of measuring profits (or benefits). There are only accounting and economic models. Of these two models, one of them is only useful in its ability to produce information valuable to tax collectors. The economic models are not as restrictive as you believe they are.

[AG78]

2. Why you commie son of a...

I agree.

[lostinacause]

3. Correct me if I am wrong but you are talking about using

an economic criteria to evaluate decisions.

Using an economic model for determining things such as health, education and even the environment is very useful. When making decisions on health there is the realization that poor health has various costs, allowing for (potentially government) action to be taken to improve social wellbeing. The environment works in a similar fashion. Costs of pollution include health, reduced tourism revenue, reduced recreation opportunity among others. People benefit in their ability to pollute in terms having the current standard of living most.

I believe it is absolutely critical that education gets re-evaluated from an economic standpoint. Some of the benefits to education include increased human capital, the knowledge required to make adequate democratic decisions, equality, and to develop societal values. My biggest issues with education come at the grade school levels. I have found that they do little to give the people the skills they need to pursue academia or a career in trades. I've learned everything that I know about politics through various forums and higher education. Equality is tied into human capital if there is decent opportunity for everyone; so while there is equality in the strictest sense allowing people to better develop their skills would help to improve everyone's quality of life. Unfortunately schools are very poor at developing societal values as it leads to the “me against the world” attitude.

The problem is not the opportunity for economic benefits but rather the inability for governments to see any political gain by making this type of decision. Unfortunately governments are usually very poor at planning for the long term because it is likely that the current people will not be in power twenty to thirty years down the road.

[applegrove]

5. I agree. There are boundaries. And teaching MBAs to go after

regulators, consumers, etc. just as they would their competators in their particular market... and with the same intent to kill.. well that is just bad.

Corporations are tools for people. Not the other way around.