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So it's OK to blatantly screw people over as long as you're "honest about it"?

No, but it's worse to do so while you say you're "making the world a better place"

Being honest about malicious intentions does not vindicate your actions.

No one said that it does, you are misrepresenting what you are replying to.

Actually that's pretty much the way the original comment (4 levels above yours) reads:

"I'd rather have the company tell me it's all about the baseline (i.e. screw people over) and be honest about it -- than pretend that it cares"

That doesn't say anything about absolving bad behavior with honesty, only that deception and bad behavior is worse than bad behavior alone.

Well yes. That is one of the pillars of capitalism. You can sell whatever you want as long as the description on the packages is "honest".