Profiting from war

[nomadic]

Does anyone have any moral issues with profiting from war?
I'm thinking of buying some war stock like Lockheed Martin, Huntington Ingalls and SAIC. They're up on average 30% this year due to conflicts in Europe, Africa and Middle East.

 

[Corey Batt]

Money is money. Lockheed has already doubled in price over the last 3 years, but the long term trend is moving towards uber high tech mechanisation, than volume so they may have a bright future.

Lots of arms suppliers out there too. Take your pick. An alternative is to look at firearms companies which supply both the civilian and military, so you can ride out both markets - most firearm companies are privately owned however so there isn't a huge selection.

 

[D.T.]

How is that any different to profiting or making a loss on anything else in the world?

Eg if a tanker was to spill some oil in the ocean, that oil company would probably have its share price go down. That'd be profitable if you were short on them.

 

[devank]

Recently I rejected a job with a tobacco company. I simply don't want to work to increase tobacco use.
However, I don't think I would be concerned to buy shares in tobacco company.

In this case, are we contributing to the war by buying shares in Lockheed?

 

[jackbak]

How is that any different to profiting or making a loss on anything else in the world?

Surely you can see how this would be an ethical dilemma for some people? If not try Googling 'socially responsible investing'

 

[cimbom]

Living in a country that profits off these manufactured wars is enough for me. I wouldn't touch these shares with a 10 foot pole but that's just me. Some things are more important than money

 

[Corey Batt]

I'd say the Yum! Food Co., Mc Donalds etc kill a lot more people than Lockheed Martin.

 

[willair]

Maybe if one was to focus on analyzing every company out there from,,Banks-Insurance Companies-Drug-Companies-Food Companies-
Casinos-Internet online Gambling Addiction,Oil Gold Gas Iorn Ore,,then into the dark world of Uranium and the bang for bucks that alone carries,but without stakeholders to back them and employ millions of people the world as we know it would stop overnight..

 

[cimbom]

Did you just compare burgers with military weapons? I think my head is about to explode...

 

[BayView]

Did you just compare burgers with military weapons? I think my head is about to explode...

Burger joints are the same - they just kill you slower, and you enjoy it more.

Maybe the Death Cult could be handed out unlimited free Maccas vouchers..they might become happier from eating all the lovely tucker, and we get rid of them at the same time.

 

[cimbom]

It's not the same at all. The biggest contributor to obesity (and death/disease due to this) is inactivity, not burgers.

 

[D.T.]

It's not the same at all. The biggest contributor to obesity (and death/disease due to this) is inactivity, not burgers.

And the biggest contributor to wars are religions, not weapons.

 

[cimbom]

Umm no. More like causing political/social instability to allow for access to cheap oil. Let's not pretend it's about anything more than that. Like the US (and friends) are going to waste billions on wars with nothing in it for them.

 

[Mr. Fabulous]

It's not the same at all. The biggest contributor to obesity (and death/disease due to this) is inactivity, not burgers.

 

[Ed Barton]

And the biggest contributor to wars are religions, not weapons.

I can just imagine the NRAs one liner....

Weapons don't kill people; priests, imams and rabbis do.

 

[cimbom]

Yeah, I know it's hard to hear that you actually have to make an effort rather than just sitting comfortably and blaming an external entity. McDonalds has been around since the 60s - obesity has only been a big issue over the last 10-15 years.

 

[Mr. Fabulous]

obesity has only been a big issue over the last 10-15 years.

Not sure if serious...

 

[Corey Batt]

Umm no. More like causing political/social instability to allow for access to cheap oil. Let's not pretend it's about anything more than that. Like the US (and friends) are going to waste billions on wars with nothing in it for them.

The oil price rises during periods of political instability. Funny how a mammoth scale productive cycle requires stable political and social forces around it to allow for cost savings down the pipeline.

What else did The Greens tell you?

 

[cimbom]

So why are we spend half a billion dollars during a "budget emergency" to go to war? Why are we not going to any of the other countries around the world where human rights abuses are occuring on a mass scale?

 

[D.T.]

Why are we not going to any of the other countries around the world where human rights abuses are occuring on a mass scale?

What's stopping you?