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Comment by lingben | Hacker News Reader

Perhaps it is a bit exaggerated but I don't think anyone would argue with a straight face that GS does more good in the world than Google.

To me this is a question not of intelligence, IQ, or ability but rather morals and soul. There are so many great individuals who propelled the world forward into a better state because they make a conscious decision to use their gifts for the betterment of fellow human beings.

Goldman Sachs' culture does NOT encourage that. In fact, if you have even a tiny amount of that within you, it will crush it with the power of a thousand black holes.

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Not Google, but I did move from Apple to GS. At Apple I felt like I was making toys for first world adults. Nothing I did really did much to improve the situation of anyone unless they were interested in renting movies on iTunes.

Whereas at GS, I was writing software to sell municipal and corporate bonds. Companies and city infrastructure were funded more cheaply as a direct consequence of my work.

There was simply no comparison between the two, my work for GS was far better for society.

You may find the work more rewarding personally but I seriously doubt that GS is due any credit for it. If any good comes from work done by GS it is certainly a by-product that simply can't be helped.

You bring up a good point, though. There's a spectrum of financial industry activity, ranging from stuff necessary for the modern economy to function to stuff that many observers would consider dangerous, irresponsible, immoral, and rent-seeking. Maybe Goldman Sachs touches every part of that continuum, maybe it doesn't - I don't know.

Sounds to me like the same thing happens in politics. At least in Mexico it seems only the greedy and self-interested people get involved in politics, when in fact politics should be an area where people with more interest in the public wellness than their own should be.

Dang. Where can you work when the culture is "we compete to get horribly rich by making the world a better place," then?

If GS does more harm that Google, perhaps that is a reason to go work for, and try to fix, GS?

That is certainly a noble sentiment however from a practical point of view I doubt that you would have any effect considering that they are a massive company employing 33,000 people around the world.

Also, the culture is set from the top-down so unless your plan is to penetrate Goldman Sachs with a fifth-column cadre that would somehow climb the corporate ladder continuously - while miraculously not losing sight of their real goal! - to one day be able to enact change from the top down, I don't know how you could possibly succeed in making even the smallest dent from your position as a corporate 'peon'.

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