Bob Moore gives his Bob's Red Mill Natural Food Co. to 209 employees

Wow my hat is off to Bob Moore he is giving away his business to his current 209 working employees. Known as Bob's Red Mill Natural Food Company, Bob wants to take care of his employees instead of selling the company or willing it to his family members.

Asked why he did not give away or will the business to family members in another interview he said, he had made enough money to take care of his family and his family would also be taken care of in his will. Bob as you will read has been in business for over 40 years. The question is will the 209 employees get along and run a successful business. I say they will and I believe the existing employees will be more dedicated, miss less work because of sickness and will be more apt to share more of their ideas to make the business succeed in the future. Do you think American businesses can learn a little something from Bob Moore? ^Y^

abcnews.go.com...


[edit on 21-2-2010 by amari]

What would happen with American businesses if they took Bob Moore's example

of taking care of their employees? Would unions be needed or not if this

example was followed of giving your business to the employees? Would this

make people think first of buying American made verses buying products grown

or made in foreign countries? Bob, you are right this is the good part of

America. ^Y^


[edit on 21-2-2010 by amari]

What would happen if a brand new town was created out west from scratch with

water, highway and railroad access and the concept would be that if you started

a business that it would eventually be owned by the employees thru

proportional shares of stock determined by how many years each employee

worked at that particular business. You as a business owner would agree to

this going into the endeavor and there would be tax breaks for doing so and

you as the original owner or starter of the business have to have at least 10

employees working on staff. Which company would you rather work for one

that offered ownership or one that did not? Would this fly or would there be

too much opposition to this employee ownership concept? ^Y^



[edit on 21-2-2010 by amari]

If making Americans healthier is his passion, encouraging good business practices and entrepreneurship is his mandate.

"There's a lot of negative stuff going into business today," he said. "It's a good old basic Bible lesson -- love of money is the root of all evil. And unfortunately, our entire philosophy today is get all the money you can and whatever way you can. It's caused many corporations to bite off more than they can chew. And it causes people to do a lot of things just for money that they feel in their hearts is not the right thing to do."

That pretty much sums up what has destroyed many corporations (Enron, etc), people, and families, and has left American capitalism near death, after 30 years of nonsense.

In this time of rightly deserved corporate bashing, we need to ask, Are you a good corporation or a bad corporation?

For the "intelligent optimist", there is Ode magazine to help us decide.

Excellent thread BTW. Yes, why NOT more of these businesses? Maybe now is the time to sew seeds of a new capitalist revolution.

reply to post by desert


Yes you are correct in order for capitalism to thrive we need honest

corporations and ethical business practices. Some how the employee gets

caught in the middle of downsizing or a company that is unethical. Thank God

there is still ethical and honest companies out there in America's heartland. It

comes down to this in many cases what is more important the employee or the

price of the stocks that keep investors happy. ^Y^

reply to post by amari


Capitalism needs more Henry Ford types who believed in "upwelling up" economics rather than trickle down economics. Henry Ford took care of his workers and made sure they were paid well. He did not do this because he was a particularly honest or moral person, he did this because it was in hist best interests to take care of the common worker.

The apex of the pyramid is only as strong as its base and foundation. People like Henry Ford were well aware of this. People now wonder why the economy is not working right.

Well perhaps this is because in the last couple decades the wealthier made more money, but people at the bottom regressed. The apex of the pyramid has risen so high it is now disconnected from the base. This apex will eventually fall, but the weakened base of the pyramid will not be able to support it as it comes crashing down.

While on the surface it does have a humanitarian flavor, but contending his actions are successful has yet to be determined. While no one can surely find it malevolent to leaving something of value to a group that were once loyal workers and are now owners/operators is a whole different thing all together.

Once it becomes what someone can get out of it, it will be nothing but what it's worth and nothing about tradition, market share, reputation etc. etc.

When it's all done and over and a new direction is taken, only after a period of time will we really know if they made it or if they all got caught up in the dash for the cash. I for one hope they come back anew with the same product and the same quality that was the reason Bob Mill was so successful.

Lee Iacocca in his newly released book asks the question in the Title

of his book, Where Have All he Leaders Gone? I believe America is yearning

for strong and truthful leadership. Isn't that something that we as American's

yearn for someone that actually tells the truth. Many Americans are so

accustomed to politicians lying to the people we except it as politics as

usual. Do we really have an Ethics Committee in Congress?


In order for this nation to survive and not die leaders most step forward now

in business with ethics, honesty, hard work and pride with new

breakthroughs in technology as well as men and woman with proven ideas

and new ideas that actually work to stimulate the economy.


America is not about one man's Presidency and legacy it is about all the hard

working and dedicated people and their families that make this Nation tic.

^Y^




[edit on 23-2-2010 by amari]