Corporate Social Responsibility: Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

There have been many articles on corporate responsibility lately due to the ill judgment of the CEO’s of the U.S.’s largest companies. For instance, John Thain, the CEO for Merrill Lynch, had invested more then 1.22 million dollars in renovating his office with such luxuries as a $87,000 area rug or curtains for $28,000. Many people would consider this as a waste of money, but what is considered a waste, Thain spent $1,400 on a waste basket, therefore it can’t be considered anything but trash. The argument is how much is too much when it comes to expenses for such large companies. This type of expenditure seems reasonable if a company is brining in multi-million dollar profits, but with a forth-quarter net loss of $14.31 billion, this type of spending is anything from considerable. I don’t blame him, with an estimated income of $50 million dollars; it is really hard to gain an understanding of money when it is as available as air. One may not appreciate something that is so readily available to him.

With millions of dollars being thrown around to supply company executives with such luxuries as privet jets and exotic vacations, it is a must to remember where it all came from, the consumer. The consumer provides the capital to fund such extravagant luxuries just to find that they are paying premium for their product. Shouldn’t such luxuries be returned to the consumer? Yes! That is why corporate social responsibility or C.S.R. for short is an important property to look for when analyzing a company. CSR provides a great opportunity to give back to the precious consumers that fund their business.

But again, I don’t blame corporations that don’t believe in returning the favor of business. Capitalism is the main economic system of the United States. Capitalism brings rise to entrepreneurship due to the perusal of such lavish luxuries. Who doesn’t have a dream to make millions of dollars. I know I do. The problem is when people get to greedy to give thanks for what they have and place any additional cost to their customers rather then accepting the cost themselves. Eventually the well will dry up and so will their pocket books.

In conclusion, don’t bit the hand that feeds you. Rather make sure the relationship between the supplier and consumer offer equal benefits to ensure a lasting relationship.