Jerry Eichenberger wrote on 06/11/10 at 12:13:13:LA -
I don't intend to be disrespectful, but I am glad you have so much experience with corp. boards, as you make factual allegations that can only come from experience.
Now for reality - in the past couple of decades, I have turned down invitations to serve on a couple of boards for the very reason that I don't want to be the target of this rubbish. I know many others who, in past times, could have contributed a given skill or knowledge set, but chose not to for the same reasons. The same reason I turned down a judgeship when it was offered - I don't want my family or me to be a political target either.
It's truly a shame that some folks take such a one-sided, uninformed view of the business world, without ever having been there themselves, or at least not at the upper levels.
As for expressing your displeasure with any one company, or group of companies, simply stop buying their products or services. That's called "voting with your pocketbook", the most powerful vote anyone has. If you hate Walmart, don't shop there. If you hate BP, quit buying their gas.
If enough people feel as you do (the true measure of impetus in any democracy, right?), the company will get the message that its customers want something to change. Otherwise, if a large number of people don't so join you, the majority's decision carries the day.
Are you old enough to remember 30 years ago when the Detroit auto companies turned out crap? If you are, you also recall how Detroit quality has vastly improved, since the majority of American consumers started buying Hondas, Toyotas, VWs, BMWs, etc.
Maybe the same reason that the once all-powerful manufacturer, Harley Davidson is in the shape it is now. You do own a Japanese motorcycle, right? Why? The majority of riders voted with their pocketbooks.
Jerry,
it's a shame you see me as having a "one-sided, uninformed view of the business world" in a post where I was trying and obviously failing to simply state that your altruistic view of board members might be overly optimistic and that board members do profit from being board members in more ways than just the "nominal compensation" given to attend meetings.
small businesses are great for the most part, just doing what they need to get through, but big businesses have challenges and face many ethical vs profit challenges and if they don't pick profit, they often lose to the other big business that does. it's a cut throat business world isn't it? that's what everyone keeps telling me, everyone being business owners and people with much more experience than I. I don't believe that it's a grand conspiracy theory to destroy humanity, but the evil things that happen can be an indirect consequence of the profit/greed motive.
and I just don't believe in "voting with your pocketbook" mainly because I'm still kinda poor and I need to buy the cheap stuff of everything to make my budget. also there is no such thing as a perfect product. I also feel that voting with your dollar is an extremely slow way of making any kind of progress. and there are many many ways that companies you don't like can still get your dollar.
*disclaimer: I am in no way an expert on businesses or their practices, so jerry is right in his sarcastic opening remark (good for him)
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