The Criticism of Profit

Unfortunately, profit is criticized much more than it is acclaimed. It has been the whipping-boy of politicians, the print media, television newscasters and personalities, self-appointed speakers for labor and consumers, environmentalists, the arts community, and the religious community. All of these groups, at one time or another, have joined in a chorus of righteous indignation opposing the profit of "big oil," "big banks," or "big corporations."

The problem is that most of this opposition has more to do with demagoguery, political posturing, and fund-raising than it does with rational economic analysis. Many of these groups are against all profit except their own.