Business Has No Conscience. Yet.

America must prepare for the worst in economy.. Prepare for the unexpected to happen..

Some interesting topics...

During this bad time, does it bring out the worst or the best of people? The Top players sure have a difficult time understanding morals...LOL

President Obama is doing much better than our last Presidential administration in dealing with the economic disasters and it's bail outs. He made mistakes...and he is learning on the job. He needs some more members in the Presidential boardroom. Today, he told the public the buck stops with him. We admire that...but did others help point out the legal issue on the contractual issues with it's pay-outs with AIG before or after the bail-outs? Interesting...He does need some top advisor's to help him with a presidential understanding in the boardroom. That was a mistake...but at least he his honest.

A good topic...

After reading this I'm brought back to the title of the tome and the word, Yet. Is there something stewing for a future article? Thoughts of and for solutions are missing in this article.

As long as congress doesn't put any stipulations on the bailout money the recipients will do as they please...just as they've done all along. I've heard that if you rescue a damsel in distress, what you get is a damsel in distress...we've "rescued" these companies by giving money to the same execs who ran them into the ground. Any bailouts should require: a) a new management team b) a certain percentage of the money MUST be loaned out to AMERICAN interests and, c) all funds must be used for AMERICAN interests since the money is coming from the American taxpayer.

Until congress stops allowing absurd bonuses and puts some parameters in place, I don't want to hear them grandstanding about how terrible companies like AIG are. They're deflecting the blame when they're the ones who are complicit in this debacle.

Mr. Trump,

I always enjoy hearing and reading your views on business, politics, social and ethical issues - life in general. I think this country could benefit from even more exposure to your views in video, audio, and writing.

The bigger the organization, the easier it is to be invisible and hide to avoid accepting accountability. Wouldn't it be great, if before anyone acted or reacted, they just stopped to ask "Is this going to be a part of the problem or a part of the solution?" Every choice we make has some effect. A very wise man once told me that every relationship you value must be built on a foundation of trust. Large corporations are made up of individuals, and the culture that is established in them is established by individuals. While nobody should trust a liar or a thief, because either one's actions are based on acts of deceipt and breeches of trust, yet sometimes it is difficult to recognize until it is too late, because many are great actors - or sociopaths.

Personally, I can't control what others do. All I can do is carefully examine my own choices, and try to always improve on this moment, learn from my past and the mistakes of others, try to set a better example, and encourage others to do the same. Then, when I make a poor choice, accept responsibility, forgive myself, learn from my error, and move forward.

Business ethics, virtues, and traits of character all need to be instilled in many ways to become part of corporate culture. You are in a powerful position to encourage this in your enterprises. This can be included in things such as this blog, posters in work areas, newsletters, commentary following Apprentice Episodes, storytelling, lyrics in songs, works of art, and many creative moments of communication. As a country, we need to be vigilant in building character and instilling ethics. The pioneer spirit and our culture's values were what initially made us great and gave us quality of life.

Greetings from Canada,

I'm excited at the fact that someone like Mr. Trump is opening a discussion about conscience in business. People would assume that, as a billionaire, he supports lying, cheating, and greed, but this article and the Larry King interview say the opposite. It's always good to see integrity amongst leaders.

The conservatism with which Canadians typically manage money, whether a bank or household, was always seen as a negative attribute, but now this conservatism and morality provides a good model even for our neighbours to the south.

It was bad management, practices and policies by those in corporate leadership that led to this economic breakdown, but you would think that they would have learned by now. Instead they're perpetuating the economic problems with even more bad management and practices. I hope that from these bad economic times leaders will learn a greater sense of accountability for how they manage and run their organizations. I hope AIG has to cough up a large portion of that money as a sign to other companies that this type of mismanagement won't be tolerated. When we say "Business has no conscience" we're really saying "Business people have no conscience". I hope and pray that this economic breakdown makes these companies think.

PS: I look forward to seeing the Trump Tower in Toronto!

Hmm, sure seems like there is a lot of chaos out there right now. Yes, giving out bonuses to parts of a company that pretty much sunk the rest of the company is a foolish thing to do. It looks like public outrage will cause this issue to get straightened out. However, for the rest of us, once again we're got to realize that we are sitting on a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity right now.

Things are so crazy and the world is upside down and this is exactly when opportunity strolls up to your place and knocks loudly on your door. Case in point: this is a great time to start a bank. Nobody else is lending money so if you had the funds, you could get the best clients now and keep them as the economy picks up. They will remember who was there for them when they really needed you.

This is also probably a great time to start a USED car dealership. People's need for transportation has not gone away, just their price points have shifted. Becoming the dealer who can work with people and who can provide some sort of temporary loan payment suspension if you lose your job could win you a huge chunk of your local market.

What else do people need even during a recession / depression? Food, cell phones, health care, child care, elderly care, solid financial advise, etc. Now is the time to be innovative - once the market has recovered (which it will eventually do) opportunity will have moved on and will be knocking on someone else's door.



- Dr. Jim Anderson
<a href="http://www.TheAccidentalNegotiator.com/" title="The Accidental Negotiator Blog">The Accidental Negotiator Blog</a>
"Learn The Secrets To Successful Sales Negotiation - Close the Deal Every Time!"

I think the outrage that we are seeing is a result of a public that is in a recession and feeling the pressure of paying their bills and then to have these large payments being issued to people. There is always going to be a jealousy between the general public and winners that are at the top. These people receiving these bonuses at AIG were only getting something they had been promised way back. However, I can’t see how a company is handing out any bonuses when the company is a failure.

This is a prime reason why the government should stay out of private business, it will only snowball from here until they get back to doing what they are paid to do.

I hope that President Obama succeeds, but it looks to me that he is just very inexperienced and unfortunately he has surrounded himself with inexperienced people as well. I know he means well and is trying to jump out of the gates to show everybody he wants change, but it seems to be a little aggressive, he has another 3.5 years to change things.

Business has no conscience, what is not being said is who protects the small business owner, who has to be concess about having a conscience so they are not put out of business. I beleive we may find that more big businesses don't have a conscience because they don't have to, they can afford or operate without one. I think that instead of bailing out AIG, they should have had to close shop and start a new business. re find their investors to pay their way. Why is it big business gets bailed out but if my small business fails then i have to lock the doors, take the loss, and go back to work for someone else. We have allowed these big businesses to operate with out a conscience becasue they feel they don't need to have one because whether they make good or bad business decisions our government and leaders will just bail them out, when will they be held accountable for their decisions? When will they care, i beleive not until someone makes an example of them, by making them admit i failed therefore i am no more.

business has one goal and that is to create revenue.the conscience is what business lack in the upper sanctions of the corporation and the executives.what a sad state of affairs we are in right now.america is the land of the greedy and then the aig blowout is shamed by the very people bailing them out,our own government is to tax the people 95%.how does this put the money back into the business?it only increases the govt`s pockets.it sounds like a scam and seems unreal to me.it is true there is no thought towards the company surviving,only the uppers are lining the same pocket that it already emptied out.the right hand takes back from the left? we my friends are in the epic spot we were warned about in revelations.no conscience iscorrect and will be the reason the system fails,it runs on lack of conscience and it operates on self sustaining greed.shame on our govt for the "bailout and repalming plan".truly in the know,mr dana rene hoecker

Yeah. Larry King is a true and real professional. Just one of those people who have found their passion in their life and made it their job. In fact, just like you Mr Trump.

And as far as I know in these economical factions, which isn't all that far, but anyways, to me it seems like they have thrown out big bonuses in really inappropiate times. A bonus is to me something a company gives out to employees when the company is doing well. Let everybody who made the cake have a piece of it. Fine. But this is totally inappropriate.

And agreed. Obama is doing well considering the circumstances. In that room full of scorpions...

To AIG executives: a man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions. to AIG Staff: most people would succeed in small things, if they were not troubled with great ambitions.

Bentley University is one of the first higher education institutions to develop and implement the use of a Center for Business Ethics to help teach students the benefit of "business conscience". Business ethics and social responsibility have become one of the institution's core values as well as a mandatory class and topic of discussion for all students. I think it has helped to address the issue of "business having a conscience" for Gen Y especially. Personally, I have gained valuable insight from the implementation of this ideal in most of my classes.

Hi Mr. Trump

I have discussed a proposal with Brett Carman, which involves setting up a niche company, which provides service to homeowners, sellers and agents. Summing up the statistics, it will develop into a billion dollar industry. THAT'S AT 10% MARKET SHARE! and only in USA, only in residential. There is still commercial and again, a WORLDWIDE MARKET. The process is mainly web based.

Brett’s' e-mail from last week advised that he no longer writes for the TRUMP UNIVERSITY however will get back to me. He makes no mention of discussing the issue with you though which is a worrying factor.

To close Mr. Trump, I have worked long and hard on this and would really be grateful if you would hear me out. You are very difficult to reach, especially when across the other side of the world.

Sincerely

G J Chester - anchor.estates@yahoo.com