Striking similarities
The motive of a business is to make a profit. There. Got that out of the way. Let’s move right along, and ask a question. What is the motive of a business owner?
The recent accident in Lac-Mégantic, involving a “short line” railroad, is going to be an adventure in discovery. So little information available, and so many, many questions that cry out for answers. The early evidence points to a railroad that cut certain corners to make profit. Some with the blessing of government, others through practices that won’t make it into a manual on how to do things well.
This morning, I learned about another, similar accident back in 1996. In Wisconsin. Involving a short line that tended to cut certain corners. And one other key element. The two companies have the same CEO. A fearless leader who likes to reduce costs. Staff reductions. Salary reductions. Diminished maintenance. And profitability. Here’s a story, from the Toronto Star, with a few more facts.
The investigation will take months, and the official conclusions may be years off.
Trying to decide if we want to “change things up” during summer vacation ’13. Get out of the tent for a few more nights, and involve extended family. The idea is still at the seed level, but we’re in full growing season. Could be an evolution, nay, revolution over the next few hours. I have one more day in the cubicle; hardly enough time to return to complacence. Or maybe we’ll get on a boat and see a distant shore…
