[Caymus]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

Boomer!

You are describing corporatism, where the corporation and its stock price come first!
Corporatism is more inefficient as you get towards the mgmt top because the egos lose rational thought and spend shareholder money for their interests, even non buybacks investments start to get self centered as the best for them vs the company
Its the sign of advanced economic financialization of the world, where all that matters are dollars and return stories and shareholder spin.

For the rest of the people who miss Boomer's point completely, just focusing on the cause of either brakes, (not breaks) or bearings (not barings) , the $10 billion of cash being spend on stock should be spent on better maintenance, upgrading brakes to stop faster, replacement cars for old worn out cars, more track inspections and repairs, etc

Just like UHC thinking that insurance company's can't lose money anywhere, and must grow profits by becoming a near monopoly negotiating lower and lower rates for higher profits and bonuses. human greed has been known to wreck nice situations. . .

I have friends who are in accounting and finance in very large companies, in different industries, who have seen corporatism in many ways, and seen people go to the pokey for same, and it just keeps happening. The power ascent occurs in business as well as politics, where ever the perceived power and influence. Jack Welsh was one of the big influences and trend starters, and working with former GE executives, you can see who worshipped Jack and were Jack wannabes, and who hated Jack, there are few in between. .

future former finance guy

Does Buffet manage his railroad any better?