CitizenX

I don't think that it is that easy. If I (alone) own a business and commit an evil act (ie. knowingly pollute some drinking water that in turn kills someone), then it is not the business that is evil it is the owner (me), or person/persons that committed the act that earns that title. Corporations differ in that they are made up of a group of people that are not legally responsible for the actions of the corporation. The Corporation is it self a legal entity, a legal fiction, A PERSON under the law, and is accountable (or suppose to be) for it's actions. Because the owners (Share owner's, maybe YOU?) of the Corporation is not legally responsible for the actions of the corporation it becomes a breeding ground for psychopathic personalities. People that will do anything to increase profits for the company so they can rise in the hierarchical structure and receive their bonuses. This encourages people to do anything for the all mighty buck as long as they don't damage the company image or accrue fines that diminish profits. cost benefit analysis. If it is cheaper to pay the fines than to enact environmental safety measures that might save wildlife and do the morally correct thing, the Corporation will pay the fines and risk the damage. Some books you may find of interest on the subject. ( Please buy local and from small businesses) Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work "Snakes in Suits" examines psychopaths in the corporate workplace: how to spot them and how to deal with them. But its lessons are applicable to a bigger picture. The moral relativism inherent in our Capitalist system is the perfect opening for opportunistic psychopaths to rise to the top. Psychopath Test The Sociopath Next Door Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us

So you believe that the term Evil can be attached to a non-living entity? No need for the eye roll, it's not as simplistic as you make it out to be.

Look I'm not a fan of our version of democracy, if you can even call it a democracy. I would much rather have a version of Switzerland's Direct Democracy. And yes you are correct that the Canadian government has shown on numerous occasions that when it really comes down to it we don't really have any rights. The system in place to prevent this has failed multiple times, but this has nothing to due with real democratic principles. It's not what the majority of the Canadian people decided upon it. it's what the Conservative Government, and the RCMP that decided was appropriate, and it was the Canadian apathy that let them get away with it. It was in my opinion not "demonstrably justified". I believe it very possible to meet a more respectable level of ecologically responsibility what ever that means to environmental scientists that are reasonably unbiased, and at least don't work for the industry as is the case now for the most part. Yes this will no doubt cost more to the consumer in the long run under Canada's current system, again not the system I'm in favour of. No jobs have to be lost in fact more jobs might be created. No and yes to some degree I do believe in income redistribution. But this is Off Topic. I shared my definition of a word... Evil = the absence of Empathy and Compassion Just because you don't share my view of this doesn't make you evil. I don't really understand what you are trying to say? As far as my signature about Conservatives I will not only apologize for it but I will remove it. It obviously upsets you and I am all for hearing different views in a non judgmental way. I will watch my self from now on. I agree with you completely. I am just anti-Corporation, and this is where we disagree.

Pliny we may not agree on this one. Yes I call myself a libertarian left, but this simply means my political views resides in that political territory. It doesn't mean I'm a full on anarchist. But as a libertarian I believe in full self-owners. If I'm ever put in a situation in which I am sure to die in a very slow and painful way, I believe it is my personal right to use any means to either ease my pain through ie Heroin, or end my life. I also don't believe that there is any reason why your idea of an "industry of death" has to be created. All that is needed is for the government to allow people their natural rights of self ownership to be exercised. This can and should be allowed at any hospice. Like Jack Kevorkians device, a machine can be set up where the individual can commit the act. This is an act that is decided by the individual not by any State or group. It is a natural right. http://postimage.org/image/2kc2j1i5g/ http://www.politicalcompass.org/

Democratic process is Evil? Democracy is a tyranny of the majority? Unions are abusive? I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more. It is only a tyranny if it tramples on your rights. There is a system in place that is in place to disallow this. Not every environmentalist (me included) is asking for a ban on oil sand production. They are demanding that it is done in a ecologically responsible manner. Why do I want this? Because I believe that the Canadian people can have it both ways. They can have the Jobs, and money created, and do it in a responsible manner. I am well aware that people are fundamentally selfish. Me included. I want to live in a more just world. I want to live a world that has clean air and water. I want to live in a world that takes care of it's poor, elderly and less privileged, because I realize that in doing so that I will live in a better society. It is selfish I guess because I benefit from this and it makes me feel good. Why don't you want this? This includes everything that anyone does? I think you are really stuck on this one definition of evil. If you don't agree with it, I can't argue it's points any more because it's not mine.It was simply an example of definition I provided because no one else was providing one. I also don't think you have a soap box to stand on until you provide your own definition. Take some time and think....What is it to be evil?....Can a person be evil or is evil an act?....Can you place the title evil on an a non human entity?

No more than Christians. There are good Christians and evil Christians (George Bush). Just like Muslims.

Like I said earlier I'm not involved in Unions. As far as I know Unions are democratic, Plus no one forces a person to be apart of a union. If your dignity is violated it's done to you voluntarily with your consent. Belief system?? Yaa I suppose so, they see, and experience the damage done to the environment they tend to believe in what they are doing. As far as the Catholic Church opposing birth control "for the good of society", that's ridiculous. I'm not a Catholic but as far as I know It is a sin to spill your seed or waste it in some manner. It has nothing to do with what is good for society, it's about wasting gods gift. This might be the world you live in. That is why I called you ignorant in the buddhist sense earlier. You might be a very intelligent man in many ways, but your ego drives you, it controls you. The root of all Evil is the Ego.

That's a nice pair of rose colored glasses your wearing. See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil ehhh.

I don't understand what you are trying to say in the first sentence. Yes I suppose that some unions resort to violence in protecting it's members jobs. I'm not in a union so I can't speak to this. Anyone or group is capable of committing immoral or evil acts but this is not the main purpose of the union. I think you are really stretching here. If environmentalists push for policies changes that is because they are needed for the good of society. People used to burn coal in the UK to the detriment of the health of everyone else. Does this mean that they should be permitted. Yes I believe that motivations make and act evil. No Image is not why most individuals do moral things. Most people I know do moral things because they want to live in a better world. You must be the change you want to see in the world - Mahatma Gandhi

What ravings, and what contradictions? It was a philosophical question, and I put forth my views. Because you disagree it's ravings? First it's not my definition. As usual you have taken what have said and twisted it to your benefit. It was the definition put forth by the Unified Theory of Ethics. I simply put it in as an example of someone else's definition. I stated my definition earlier (Page 1, entry 1) .But using this definition I'll give it a go. Unions don't violate the dignity of the individual. They were created to defend the dignity of it's member's, through proper working hours, benefits, and wages. Environmental groups don't violate the dignity of the individual by wishing to deny people access to cheap and reliable power (this doesn't even make sense). They are concerned with the welfare of humanity, and wildlife. It is the job of the corporations to cut corners enviromentally to create more profits, and it's the job of Environmentalists to call attention to this. So any military action is evil? White collar crime that steals the retirement savings of old people isn't? I'm not poking fun at you, I just don't think that you have put much thought to the subject. You might be correct in saying that people are fundamentally selfish. But it doesn't mean "people and organizations are amoral and the terms good and evil do not apply". You don't think that groups of people like the KKK, Nazi's, Khmer Rouge, ect are evil. They "deliberately killed and inflict physical harm on other people." I would say the only reason Companies do moral things is profit motivated. It's all about their image.

Not only did they win, but the Americans helped their cause tremendously. They proved to the rest of the world who the real evil doers are. American deaths from 911 2,996. Iraq documented civilian deaths 102,416 - 111,937. All for nothing, An illegal war built on a lie.

Maybe this will be the start of the American version of the French revolution. Off with the heads of bankers?

Tim you don't seem capable of contributing to this subject maturely. Why do you take an attack on corporations so personally? The enemy (Environmental groups,and unions) of your friend (Corporations) is your enemy? This topic has started going off the rails. The question was, do you believe corporations are evil. 1) What is your definition of evil? 2) What kind of entity is a corporation? It is legally a person. 3) Can you affix the word evil to the concept Corporation?

Are Laws against things like murder or rape subjective? Is murder or rape against the law because it's a universal immoral or evil act? Or is murder against the law because it infringes upon your rights?

Can a group of people be evil? examples KKK, Nazi's, Khmer Rouge, ect.. Individually the people in the group might be good but because they are part of a group and can defer responsibility or they are afraid of their own safety they commit evil acts. Evil is a well-defined term in the Unified Theory of Ethics, a recently-introduced new paradigm for an old field of study. In this new (yet old) discipline, the concept evil is defined as: the dis-valuation of an individual. This dis-valuing can be done by a person, a thing, or a system, but if the dignity of the individual is violated evil is present. Ethics directs us to treat individuals with respect and to refrain from harming them.

I am well aware of all the products that come from oil. If more people did and understood that it is a finite resource they would probably kick the ass of any suburbanite driving around in a hummer. "more people are actually helped by commerce and economic prosperity" What kind? At what price? And what people are you talking about?

Morality is not a Christian concept. Morality refers to that code of conduct that is put forward by a society. I'm sorry but it is more moral to help people than to profit from them. How can you dispute this?

I don't understand this, an idea that is altruistic is morally superior to profit motives. You just don't believe that environmentalists are altruistic. In my mind Red cross, and Green Peace is morally superior to BP. Their concern is for others not profits. What is your concept of morality?

Where is the proof of this? Environmentalists are tied to Big Green Business? Nice try. Yaaaa OK, now your really reaching. Zealots have no interest in the truth they just want to promote their cause. How can you have a cause you don't believe in...ohhh unless your a big oil company that has huge profits on the line. What? What products, T-shirts, and bumper stickers? The reason you can't give me proper answers is because you can't understand why anyone would do anything for free. The only thing you believe in is money and getting yours.....Sad.

Tim we have been through this before. I think we all understand why the Oil industry create this kind of propaganda. But my question to you is what reasons do environmentalists have to lie? Is there big money in it for them? "There is no moral difference between an ethical oil ad and an ad funded by Suzuki foundation or Greenpeace." What world do you live in where you actually believe this?

This topic has started going off the rails. The question was, do you believe corporations are evil. 1) What is your definition of evil? 2) What kind of entity is a corporation? It is legally a person. 3) Can you affix the word evil to the concept Corporation? Some articles Are Corporations Evil? Why Good People Do Bad Things Political Hotwire Forum Are Corporations Evil?

Warning: Propaganda Who's Behind New Pro-Oil Sands Ad Blitz?

I posted this video earlier on this site. I think people could learn a great deal from it. Jonathan Haidt on the moral roots of liberals and conservatives

I never said you were stupid or evil Tim. You might have trouble with your reading comprehension. You always seem to take what I say and twist it around. I said you were a "poor misguided and ignorant Conservative". I used the word ignorant in the buddhist sense. The Ego is the root of all evil. ( This is a universal truth )

No, you should take a long look at your beliefs and be Depressed.