big ugly

Have you ever noticed how in business, words and terms are used that, if used in day to day life, would probably paint you as some kind of monster? I was listening to the radio in the car, and the business report came on, and the correspondent down at the TSX was talking about investment opportunities in newly opened markets, and the words he used to describe the situation was ‘whoever can best exploit these new markets…’ or something to that effect. Now, to me, the word exploit is just one of those words that doesn’t really lend itself to positive imagery.

The charity exploited the goodwill of its donors and its coffers overflowed with funds.
The son exploited the love of his parents.

You see...it just doesn’t sound right. And by exploiting, or attempting to exploit a market, of course they realize that said market is populated by human beings…real people…both rich and poor...and by admitting to wanting to exploit the market, they are, in effect, wanting to exploit as many consumers/people as possible? And when they say exploit…they don’t just mean trade services and products for fair value…with a kind handshake and a smile…they mean they want to squeeze every last cent out of every wallet with legs they come across…and they’ll do or say whatever they have to to get it. Its called survival of the fittest. I guess greed, ruthlessness and lack of morals constitutes ‘fit’ now…or has it always been that way? So why would they do such a thing? Why not!?! They want money. And lots of it. So I guess by dehumanizing people into markets or demographics, big business creates the perfect atmosphere for maximum profits with minimum conscious.

Which is why I’m starting to believe we’ll never be able to save the planet and reverse the damage we’ve done should the course of global warming be leading to the disaster that some are predicting…or be able to spark any sort of real change at all. Business...big business...will never let it happen. Only recently have businesses started to eschew the virtues of being ‘green’…not because they care about the environment or what happens to the planet…but because they care that their customers care about the environment. Its good for the bottom line…and that’s all businesses care about. Keeping the shareholders happy. Its all just an act. One big sales pitch. Just like governments only ‘pretend’ to be concerned about the environment right around the time of an election…or when some natural disaster is narrowly averted…when really, they’re just like businesses, looking for the best way to grow GDP and run surpluses rather than deficits. How many sales pitch promises to governments actually keep?

"So there might be oil in that protected national park in Alaska? You don’t say?"

And I know...money makes the world go, and in the right hands, money can make a positive difference...I get that...but as far as I’m concerned, this oil driven, ultra-capitalist world we live in is leading us down a road to ruin. It’s only a matter of time. The only question for me is what’ll collapse first…the financial markets…or the ecosystem.