Check out this ad by a shoe company that supports strong women - and the raw hatred it generates...

[Caliman73]

22. Not cynical. Realistic.

I am sure that there are some people within the company who are pitching it and really believe the social message they are promoting. However, with ANY profit oriented business, the bottom line is the bottom line. They are without a doubt, ultimately making the decision based on the buzz and potential profits it will generate.

I saw the documentary "The Corporation" several years ago and it has colored my view of large multinational corporations. The premise of the documentary is, "If corporations are people, what kind of people are they?" It starts out discussing how corporations used to have to be licensed and regulated by states and had provisions for the "public good", then in 1886 in Santa Clara County v Southern Pacific Railroad, the clerk of the court entered a statement into the record saying the corporations are protected under the 14th amendment, and the idea of corporations are people became precedent.

We do want to reward companies for good social behavior, but ultimately they are driven by profit regardless of other consequences.