The Inflection Point

By Robert C. Hinkley

15 February 2026

Today, the world justifiably worries about climate change, the division caused by social media and the unfathomable harms which may be inflicted by artificial intelligence. Government seems frozen, unable to stop it, while the companies involved continue on unimpeded and their high flying owners become incredibly rich.

The persistence of these problems has a common source:  the removal of boundaries on corporate greed starting nearly 150 years ago. Last April I wrote about how the removal of directors’ duties to the public interest gave birth to The Age of Greed.  https://www.codeforcorporatecitizenship.com/post/the-end-of-the-age-of-greed.

That removal meant that, the only way to stop business from continuing to harm the public interest in the future, was for governments to pass laws to make it stop.  However, business learned how to obstruct new laws by lobbying, spreading misinformation, or bribing public officials with campaign finance and other favours. The passage of new laws was delayed and frustrated and the damage accumulated. How much longer should we allow the Age of Greed to go on before we call an end to it? 

So far, we have done nothing because we’ve been led to incorrectly believe the damage is the cost of progress and there is no way to stop it.  We’re told by the media and pollsters that the economy is always the number one issue with voters.  Nothing can be done to upset it.  This lie keeps the world hurtling towards unfathomable dangers which get nearer every day.

We are not hopelessly divided into right and left, red states and blue states, conservatives and progressives.  We’ve just lost sight of what we all have in common. 

Arguing over ideologies should be reserved for zealots who want to show their debating prowess rather than govern.  Both sides are clever and capable of entertaining, but their positions are theoretical and favour only their side.  They shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near government whose purpose is to advance and protect the common good of all.

There are lots of things more important than the economy or individual company profits.  To name a few, the environment, human rights, the protection of children, the public health and safety, the dignity of employees and the wellbeing of our communities.  We should all be able to agree that no company should ever feel it has the right to inflict severe harm on any of these things.   The duty of corporate directors now should be changed back to ensure it.

The experiment that led to the birth of The Age of Greed has had plenty of time to succeed.  It hasn’t fulfilled its promise.  Instead, it is now causing great harm and leading us towards one disaster after another. 

A rising tide hasn’t lifted all boats. True, vast numbers are living better than they did before the Age of Greed.  But that is a false measure.  The true measure of progress must be whether the health of the Earth and the common good is being advanced or harmed? 

The answer to that is now clear.  It’s time to challenge the companies which are causing us so much worry.  The Age of Greed must be brought to an end.  Business may never become an instrument to advance the common good of all, but it can at least be required to not severely harm it.