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August 2008 
Why does a salad cost more than a Big Mac?
Posted on Dec 3rd, 2007
by 
Jon
Jon
Given the obesity problems we're having in the US this is f'ing ridiculous...
Access: PublicHow not to change the world
Posted on Dec 14th, 2007
by Jon
Jon
A friend forwarded me this article:
It's an interesting article (thanks for sending Amir) but I pretty much disagree wholeheartedly with the author.
The problem with trying to change the world is there's no money in it.
Has this guy not heard of Whole Foods? Google? eBay? Or any of hundreds of other businesses that have both changed the world and made money at the same time?
The (much) bigger problem is that most negative externalities from companies that aren't doing good (i.e., are doing bad) in the world don't have to be incurred and therefore companies that are trying to do well are actually at a disadvantage to companies that are doing well. For instance, an organic food restaurant receives virtually no benefit from federal food subsidies while fast food companies benefit tremendously. At the same time, fast food companies don't share in the costs at all when their products make people obese and contribute billions of dollars in additional health costs on society.
Figure a way to change that and you'll do WAY more to make the world a better place than anything suggested in this article.
Sorry for the rant... :)
Now the Good News...
I really appreciated that he sent it over but just had to write the following response:It's an interesting article (thanks for sending Amir) but I pretty much disagree wholeheartedly with the author.
The problem with trying to change the world is there's no money in it.
Has this guy not heard of Whole Foods? Google? eBay? Or any of hundreds of other businesses that have both changed the world and made money at the same time?
The (much) bigger problem is that most negative externalities from companies that aren't doing good (i.e., are doing bad) in the world don't have to be incurred and therefore companies that are trying to do well are actually at a disadvantage to companies that are doing well. For instance, an organic food restaurant receives virtually no benefit from federal food subsidies while fast food companies benefit tremendously. At the same time, fast food companies don't share in the costs at all when their products make people obese and contribute billions of dollars in additional health costs on society.
Figure a way to change that and you'll do WAY more to make the world a better place than anything suggested in this article.
Sorry for the rant... :)
