There's plenty of suffering for everyone. My values tell me that this is wrong and that people are more important than profits. At a broader level, the erosion of trust within organizations can lead to an erosion of faith in our organizations and economic system. It is apparent we are facing a crisis of confidence in this nation. Traditionally, employment is a component of the social contract in capitalistic societies.
Employment provides stability, livelihood, and meaning in an individual's life.
If we continue to devalue employment and employees through downsizing, the future may be more dangerous and onerous than even the most dire of doomsday predictions. A loss of faith and confidence in our system may foreshadow its demise. I believe that downsizing is a national blight that must be reversed so that the potential of this society can be realized both economically and socially. This reversal will not be easy since American business seems enamored with short-term return. It will require creative thinking from many different arenas.