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Comment by timeeater | Hacker News Reader

You have a weird concept of "thievery". If someone's prices are too high, don't hire them. If somebody doesn't pay enough, don't work for them.

If you think they are skimming money, then there has to be a way to offer the same services cheaper (without the skimming). So instead of complaining, do it. What's your excuse?

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It's not about prices. He's referring to "crooks with suits and big smiles". We all met at least a few. They aren't your local drug dealers or some shady pawn shop owners. They are usually in pretty good jobs. Lawyers that only care about getting more money from the client rather then really helping them, dentists who do rush jobs so they could make more money, realtors,who flock properties and "forget" to mention important aspects that could have an impact on the decision. Business owners who take everyone they deal with for a ride and so on. And yes, they do live in nice houses and nice neighborhoods and can often be mistaken for decent people.

So what percentage of rich people do you figure are such "crooks with suits and big smiles"?

Of course crooks exist. Most people are not crooks, though. And especially the professionals you mention may have problems to persist. Like the shoddy dentist will be busy with lawsuits presumably.

I still prefer those "private crooks" to people feeding on government money (not meaning people on social security, but people in useless jobs paid for with taxpayer money).

So what percentage of corporate CEOs do you figure are "psychopaths"?

Of course psychopaths exists. Most people are not psychopaths, though. And especially the CEOs you mention may have problems to persist.

I still prefer those "CEO psychopaths" to people feeding on government money (people in useless jobs paid for with taxpayer money).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/201...

I fail to see the relevance of your analogy? CEOs may or may not be psychopaths, but afaik it is not illegal to be a psychopath? Nor does it imply such a person will do evil things?

I personally think that the "successful pyschopaths" meme is also way overblown, but I don't really know. I think being a psychopath is actually a deficiency, not a super power. Also in business I think people who help other people tend to be more successful overall than the stereotypical ruthlessly selfish people.

Edit: I think you added the link later on, that cites 21% of CEOs to be psychopaths? I would wait for replication on that one. It reminds me of another thing I read where reading about economics allegedly turned people into psychopaths (which is of course bullshit - just because you learned about rational decisions, as perhaps most CEOs do at some point, doesn't mean you are a psychopath). I suspect the questionnaire or the study they used to determine the "21%" number may in fact be motivated by politics.

>If you think they are skimming money, then there has to be a way to offer the same services cheaper (without the skimming). So instead of complaining, do it. What's your excuse?

What if they are skimming money precisely because they made it difficult to offer the same services cheaper?

How would "they" make it difficult to offer the same services cheaper?

The only institution that can do that is government via regulations (like who can practice law or become a dentist). I agree that there are some (many?) fishy regulations like that. But that is on the government, that is, socialism. Only free markets can guarantee fair prices.

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