News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Google gave investors a $70B buyback,and laid off 12,000 people. Parent comment

Re:Google gave investors a $70B buyback,and laid off 12,000 ... by gruez on Sunday May 12, 2024 @09:56AM (#40334523)
>The Friedman Doctrine ( what you are espousing, that business are only set up to make money) is a relatively recent social construct, having been first articulated in 1970.

What were the robber barons of the 19th century doing then? Or do you think that companies like standard oil were not "only set up to make money"?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google gave investors a $70B buyback,and laid off 12,000 ... by enkid on Sunday May 12, 2024 @10:08AM (#40334617)
The robber barons are specifically examples of people considered not to be fulfilling their social responsibilities. The idea that business are only responsible to make money is the new concept, not that people were acting only to make money previously. It was seen as a bad thing, now its a deflection for bad behavior.
[ Parent | on HN ]