It's a strange thing. I hardly find anybody today who…
““It's a strange thing. I hardly find anybody today who doesn't agree that the ledger should not determine how we live. Most people think it's terrible that the pollution in Lake Michigan is being decided by how much it'll cost companies to cure it. People are realizing that an environment is being created that will be as dangerous for capitalists to live in as well as for the working people...that it's insane to let major things be decided on the basis of black figures and red figures. I find temperate people saying today that the business-motivated system isn't a safe thing to have around.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote criticizes letting financial metrics dictate environmental policy, arguing that both capitalists and workers suffer when profit overrides ecological health.
In simple terms: Profit should not decide environmental protection.
Key Takeaway
Advocate policies that prioritize ecological health over cost.
Themes
environment
economics
justice
capitalism
policy
Mood
concerned
critical
urgent
Type
political
activist
environmental
When to use this quote
- government regulation
- corporate responsibility
- community activism
- environmental advocacy
Key Concepts
externalities
public good
sustainable development
environmental ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance profit with planetary health?
- What mechanisms ensure environmental justice for all?
A Different Perspective
Economic analysis alone cannot capture ecological value.