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Old 03-19-2008, 07:21 AM   #114 (permalink)
loquitur
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Location: NYC
Host, people who make bad business decisions should be permitted to fail. And I'm not a big fan of corporate welfare, either - if a company can't succeed without government help, tough luck. No eminent domain, no bailouts. Don't confuse being pro-free market (which is what I am) with "pro anything a business wants."

I've litigated against Wal-Mart in the past. I won. And no, they weren't pleasant.

On your last question, Host, let me flip this around on you: I don't do criminal defense law, but consider this - I took on a lot of debt to get through law school, worked for the government at low pay after I graduated, and have 24 years of experience in a very demanding, very stressful job with very long hours, in which I have gained a fair amount of expertise and a reputation for creativity and practical problem-solving. I'm on the hook for my firm's lease and for all of the firm's employees' salaries and the firm's expenses. I get paid only if there is money left over after all the vendors and employees get paid. Is there any particular reason I should be giving my services to people who aren't willing to pay market price for them, merely because they are poor? Why aren't I entitled to the fruits of my investment, effort and creativity - and risk?

If someone gets into a criminal problem and needs a lawyer, they can have one appointed for them if they can't afford one. That's a pretty enlightened step for a society, you know, especially in light of history. But I can think of no reason that Joe Schmoe on the street should have a right to the criminal defense equivalent of me. A lawyer, yes. A top-notch lawyer? Why? We don't give poor people fancy clothes or steaks - they have to get by on basic clothes and food stamps. A lawyer should be no different. I might decide to do nice things pro bono, and occasionally I do, but that's my choice - no one has the right to my labor except me and the people who pay me. We got rid of slavery in 1863 and I don't think we should re-institute it for lawyers.

Henry Ford, by the way, was a business genius. His decision to pay good wages was the perfect example of enlightened self-interest. Most really successful business people have the insights to do things like that.

I have maintained consistently that only a foolish boss doesn't treat employees well.

Last edited by loquitur; 03-19-2008 at 07:23 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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