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tblue37

(66,148 posts)
23. The core problem is captured in a line from the villain in the [i]Superman III[/i] movie.
Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:53 PM
Nov 2012

The villain is a super wealthy guy (played by Robert Vaughan) who has blackmailed a low-level employee who happens also to be a computer genius (played by Richie Pryor) into helping him with his evil schemes. I don’t remember the plot details, but Mr. Rich SOB forces the Richie Pryor character to help him engineer a total rip-off of the world’s wealth, or something like that—you know, the typical over-the-top evil mastermind plot.

Anyway, at one point the Richie Pryor character asks Mr. Rich SOB why? He points out that the rich guy already has more wealth than anyone else in the world and couldn’t possibly spend it all no matter how long he lived. The villain utters this line, which has stayed with me all these years: “It is not enough that I win; everyone else must lose.”

I think that is at the bottom of a lot of the evil the super wealthy and super powerful do. They want to see the peasants desperately scraping and scrambling to barely survive—and they delight in watching the “little people” fight each other, even to the death, for the few crumbs that fall from the tables of the wealthy.

That need to watch others suffer and scrape is far more important than profit to such people. (Think about how much of a loss Murdoch and Clear Channel are willing to suffer to keep FOX News and Limbaugh, respectively, on the air despite advertising losses.)

They might not even be conscious of that vicious need in themselves. No doubt they twist their own perception of reality (we all know how easily they do that) to convince themselves that they are actually protecting their profit margins and that they really, really need to do those evil things to protect their wealth and their business success. Most of them probably also convince themselves that they are not being selfish, but actually going the extra mile to protect liberty and the rights of the individual.

But what they are really doing is feeding their Jabba the Hutt-like need to watch others tremble, suffer, and be destroyed so that they can feel supreme in their own power and control.

Recommendations

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K&R 99Forever Nov 2012 #1
Very interesting etherealtruth Nov 2012 #2
When treating US workers like slaves doesn't work... primavera Nov 2012 #7
That seems to be the SOP for jobs that can be outsourced etherealtruth Nov 2012 #17
The core problem is captured in a line from the villain in the [i]Superman III[/i] movie. tblue37 Nov 2012 #23
You hit the nail on the head jmondine Nov 2012 #24
Wow... svpadgham Nov 2012 #36
Why wouldn't they. It's a fun movie. nt tblue37 Nov 2012 #42
When we go to Costco, the workers seem genuinely happy AllyCat Nov 2012 #3
i feel the worker despair at wal mart. this whole roguevalley Nov 2012 #6
Its not just walmart though, the majority of the retail industry could do with learning to treat cstanleytech Nov 2012 #29
i never hear them grumbling, either. mopinko Nov 2012 #13
Yes, the hopelessness of Walmart employees is palpable. David__77 Nov 2012 #27
Article compares Costco with Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club not other Wal-Mart stores. "Lessons for leaders" jody Nov 2012 #4
All work is boring if you do it long enough. Arctic Dave Nov 2012 #5
I understand, I think, where you are coming from. pangaia Nov 2012 #9
Yes, I think you understand my meaning. Arctic Dave Nov 2012 #16
Yes, a great film. pangaia Nov 2012 #22
But isn't it cheaper to buy a Congress who'll pass laws that protect your money? nt valerief Nov 2012 #8
CostCo sees employees as partners, assets, and resources. TahitiNut Nov 2012 #10
+1,000 to what you said. freshwest Nov 2012 #21
I had a terrible experience at the Hellmart near me. SCRUBDASHRUB Nov 2012 #30
I wouldn't shop there if I were paid to. TahitiNut Nov 2012 #32
This nails it. SheilaT Nov 2012 #11
What is value? How is real value shared? nt patrice Nov 2012 #12
What's Costco? DreWId Nov 2012 #14
Costco is a membership warehouse club. nilram Nov 2012 #18
It's such simple common sense. Really! Voice for Peace Nov 2012 #15
Have always heard good things about Costco. xfundy Nov 2012 #19
Costco rocks. SCRUBDASHRUB Nov 2012 #31
Costco also has a cap on CEO and upper management pay.. SomethingFishy Nov 2012 #20
HUGE K & R !!! WillyT Nov 2012 #25
@Voice For Peace luv_mykatz Nov 2012 #26
K&R Heathen57 Nov 2012 #28
lesson: you can be rich, or you can be super-rich. don't just extract profit HiPointDem Nov 2012 #33
Dont be naive. The only way to do that is to tax them much higher. ErikJ Nov 2012 #35
i think you misread. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #37
Trader Joe's too ErikJ Nov 2012 #34
Walmart's policies involve methods of control and manipulation of employees, Fire Walk With Me Nov 2012 #38
I used to work at Amazon.com a few years back Victor_c3 Nov 2012 #39
I Would Gladly Shop At Costco If One Was Available - Closest Store Is 85 Miles Away cantbeserious Nov 2012 #40
Costco treats their employees well davidpdx Nov 2012 #41
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Costco vs. Walmart - Less...»Reply #23