80s Quote by Michael Moore
“Back in the '80s and '90s, when GM was consistently posting giant profits, they were simultaneously firing tens of thousands of workers in my hometown of Flint and across Michigan.”
About This Quote
Source Documentary: Roger & Me, 1989
Corporate profit can coexist with massive layoffs, highlighting a conflict between shareholder returns and worker welfare.
In simple terms: Profits and layoffs often happen together.
Key Takeaway
Consider the human cost of profit.
Themes
economics
labor
ethics
corporate responsibility
social justice
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- business strategy meetings
- union negotiations
- community activism
- policy making
- personal career choices
Key Concepts
shareholder theory
social contract
economic inequality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do companies balance profit and employee welfare?
- What policies could protect workers during profit spikes?
A Different Perspective
Profit motives may ignore long‑term social stability.
![“It was a very economically depressed time [the 80s] and because of that, there was a lot of space. Everything was relatively dilapidated, and one could live on a pretty low income. One could live well below the poverty line and not suffer immensely.” quote by Kiki Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6f7/kiki-smith-10643_80s_it-was-a-very-economically-depressed-tim_26978.jpg)
