Fallen Into Knowledge

I just got back from working at starbucks. It was a bummer night; we were way under-staffed. Consequently we were harried, customers did not receive the attention they deserved (or the attention we are required to give them), and we stayed an hour past when we were supposed to leave.
While I was cleaning an analogy occurred to me. Corporate America is like medieval Europe (or any other time when monarchy was the dominant form of government); many monarchies occupying the same continent, all of whom being somewhat uneasy with each other. It is not, however, the relations of nation-states that interests me, but how monarchs relate to their subjects, and how that relating affects the health and longengevity of that state. Those monarchs who served their own ends often did so at the expense of their people - they are remembered as despotic, and, more often than not, the country’s glory was lessened because of their leadership. Further, as a result of the oppression, corruption increases dramatically, and dissent threatens to tear the society to pieces.
Monarchs, on the other hand, who invest inwardly; who invest in the arts, in commerce, and in an infrastructure that frees the monarchy’s subjects, these monarchs are remembered for their greatness. In a country where the citizens are free to protest, dissent is diffused and does not damage the country, but, in fact, strengthens it. The glory of that country increases under the leadership of this monarch, not to mention the glory of that monarch.
The relationship between this and corporations should be obvious: corporations that place profitability as the ultimate priority (that is, the leaders act for their own interests) tend to restrict, or control, their employees: they profit at the expense of the health of their employees. This is not a sustainable situation for a corporation: employees will revolt.
The corporation, on the other hand, that makes investing in the health of their employees: giving them freedom to innovate, and an infrastructure that supplies them with needs, and trust to act significantly within the corporation - these create healthy situations for the employees, glory for the corporation itself as well as glory (and wealth) for the leadership.
well - there is my 2c. I do not expect much to change; but I have my doubt about the future health of Starbucks.

As many of you know I have been thinking alot about social justice issues as well as ecological issues. It looks like I will be sharing (teaching) some of those thoughts for Imago Dei as a part of their School of Theology. If you want information on the Class go here: christian ecology

The class is Monday nights from 7-9 starting Jan 24. and its free.
come one, come all!