When I speak of capitalism, I mean of course businesses that are based on
the investment of capital with a hope of return. Such businesses, whether
large or small, must grow or die. Family businesses, in which the
investment constitutes little more than a worker's purchase of his tools
will also have to grow as the family grows. Those of us who grew up in
them know about that first hand.
Indeed, many successful family businesses have grown to be very large
companies only to perish when the families involved refused to expand
further, since that would have meant external investment (going "public")
and dilution of family ownership/control.
I know this is going very far afield for this list, but since it is clear
that many of us have an interest in the "competitive" position of
businesses, we need to explore what we mean and expect out of
"competition". I know assertion does not make it so, but I have never met
a businessman who sought stability by denying growth.
-- Jack Hirschfeld jack@his.comWould you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar and be better off than you are? Or would you rather be a mule?