Today's PSA: (because, apparently, this is shocking to people). It's OK for corporations to make less money. It's OK for shareholders to receive less value.

No, they don't have to raise prices on their consumers. No, they don't have to cut wages or benefits. They're choosing to.

If your perpetually ascending profit model only works because you exploit your labor, then your profit model deserves no sympathy, fretting, or hand-wringing.

You can, and should, make less profit.

@Manigarm right on. Pre-Welch, GE put shareholder returns lower in their priority list than corporate citizenship (what a thought!) and taking care of their employees. Welch made high profits the new priority and the rest of the big companies followed suit.