Doing Good and Doing Well: Christmas Business
Nobel laureate Milton Friedman said that a cultural prerequisite of capitalism is the holding of truthfulness as a common virtue. When you can trust a merchant’s word, says Friedman, “it cut[s] down transaction costs.” Without adherence to common moral principles we must substitute external controls to govern business behavior; efficiency demands a framework of standards and accountability.
Even the 18th-century atheist philosphe, Voltaire, recognized this problem. Though he believed Christianity was an “infamy,” much like Christopher Hitchens, Voltaire wrote that “I want my attorney, my tailor, my servants, even my wife to believe in God…then I shall be robbed and cuckolded less often.”
So. If you are not a Jesus-lover, it is still good (and safer) to do business with ’em. Less chance of getting cheated.
The Fools for Christ are easier to spot during Christmas.
They run ads like this.
Thank you (foot)note,
Hat tip to Don Wildmon with the American Family Association for pointing us to David Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby.
See The Nativity Story. One family. One journey. One child who would change the world forever.
Human Resources: 2 Things To Count On At Christmas.
Perhaps you should also beware of companies that seek to exploit faith? Christians can be an easily manipulated group – plenty of companies will slap a cross on their product in order to increase sales.
Suricou, your advice of buyer beware is sound for any transaction. In the buyer-seller exchange, no buyer has to buy. Buyers can usually select from an number of sellers, or to decide not to buy at all.
(Unless you are buying health care in the UK….)
I would submit that followers of Jesus Christ would be more discerning than the general population. We are following the Biblical directive to ‘be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves.’
I am also doubtful of non-believers in The Christ cavalierly ‘slapping a cross’ or a fish on a product to sell anything. Please let us know if you know a particular company practicing such a practice.
In these days of internet transparency, such in-authenticity would hurt sales.
Thank you for your observations,
Jack (and Charmaine)
Thank you to Alert Reader John who corrects the spelling of Your Business Blogger(R).
It is “Wildmon” Not ‘Wildman’
I’ll be he gets that a lot.
Even from his friends.
Not long ago, Charmaine visited Don WILDMON’s operation down in Tupelo, Mississippi. He runs about the best non-profit in the business. And like any real professional, he shared his management tips.
American Family Association: The Good-Guys.
Jack