Simon, I edited out a great portion of your response to Srinath. You both
present heartfelt concerns about an always difficult issue. I would,
though, just like to focus on one aspect of business
competition--primarily to understand more about the objective, because I
may have a jaundiced point of view.
When I hear the term of open competition used, it can generate conflicting
pictures. It can imply crass materialism, where I'm simply out to get my
chunk of the world's wealth--and damn the social and environmental costs
associated with my goals. The societies of the world will have to "pay"
for my commercial consumerism, both as end users and as coinhabitants in
the ecosystem that I'm busily destroying.
It can imply that I'm competing on an even playing field, with rules,
officials and the same conditions for play as everyone else--and we all
cooperate in creating the competition so that it can continue and provide
us with ongoing joy and life.
It can also mean that I started out with more resources than you, and I'm
going to compete with you from that advantage and keep you down as long as
possible (and the reciprocal, when I beat you--and I will--you won't be
able to play anymore).
Of course, Simon, I'm not attributing any of these soliloquies to
you--just imagining some scenarios. I think that competition is good
within specific parameters. I would, though, prefer to read your thoughts
(and those of others) about "healthy" competition versus "unhealthy"
competition--or should we really prefer the jungle variety of competition
(if so, perhaps being a gangster isn't really amoral after all?).
Doc Holloway
-- A word is dead When it is said, Some say. I say it just Begins to live That day. - Emily Dickinson http://www.planet.net/pkrisxle/emily/poemsOnline.htmlThresholds--developing critical skills for living organizations Richard C. "Doc" Holloway Visit us at <http://www.thresholds.com/community/learnshops/index.html> P.O. Box 2361 Phone:01 360 786 0925 Olympia, WA 98507 USA Fax: 01 360 709 4361
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