Comment by surgical_fire | Hacker News Reader

Comment by surgical_fire | Hacker News Reader

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I live in a democracy. The government didn't pop into existence by manifestation of an unseen will, the society in which I live elected them.

If people voted for a government that is butt buddies with the large corporations that exploit society through lobbying and regulatory capture, then the values of that society are already represented, and everyone compromised into unethical corporations having their way.

What is not feasible is me, as an individual investor, voluntarily handicapping my ability to profit off something completely legal, out of some misguided notion that by divesting a few thousand dollars of some unethical company shares I would be saving a society that is far beyond salvation.

I am not the main character in the world at large, I am not a savior. I am just getting by life trying to do what I can that my wife and child are happy. That's really all there is.

> voluntarily handicapping my ability to profit off something completely legal

You are saying this is as if there were no other alternatives for you to employ your excess capital. This is certainly not true.

> some misguided notion (...) I would be saving a society that is far beyond salvation. I am not the main character in the world at large, I am not a savior.

I'm starting to hear this recently, usually thrown at me with the accusation of having Savior Complex with it, and I truly don't understand it. To me, the point is less about saving "society" and more about being able to sleep at night with a clear conscience, knowing that for all the shit that is going around in the world, my work is not doing things worse.

> I am just getting by life trying to do what I can that my wife and child are happy.

Honest question: have you ever talked with your wife about what how much material wealth do you need to be happy?

> You are saying this is as if there were no other alternatives for you to employ your excess capital.

None that I would vouch for as being morally superior. Capitalism is at odds with ethics. Which is why I favor the idea of government as a strong regulator.

> more about being able to sleep at night with a clear conscience

I sleep at night with a clear conscience. The quiet sleep of those that follow the laws agreed upon by society.

> have you ever talked with your wife about what how much material wealth do you need to be happy?

She is a woman. Her answer is "more".

It's comments like these that make me more afraid of AI, because I notice how many people behave or reason like bots, following a script.

I'll take this as a compliment, human.

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