COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

What is Purpose?

Business The purpose of business is to make profit for its owners The purpose of business is to serve customers with goods and services they need Money The purpose of money is to provide a means of exchange The purpose of money is to provide a store of value Banking The purpose of a bank is to provide money and banking services that are needed by society Agriculture The purpose of agriculture is to produce healthy food Education The purpose of a school is to educate students The purpose of education is to give students the knopwledge and skills they need Health The purpose of a hospital is to provide medical procedures that solve a patient's medical problems The purpose of a doctor is to solve a patient's medical problems Government The purpose of a government is to provide the enabling environment for socio-economic activity There are many elements of an effective enabling environment Infrastructure The purpose of infrastructure is to provide physical support for socio-economic activity Oil industry The purpose of the oil industry is to provide energy and raw materials for society's needs Mining industry The purpose of the mining industry is to provide the raw materials for society's needs Family The purpose of family is to give a structure that cares for children and elders around productive adults Markets The purpose of markets is to stabilize economic activity and allocate resources efficiently Trade The purpose of trade is to take advantage of opportunities to improve socio-economic productivity Investment The purpose of investment is to finance socio-economic activities that are needed and give a return to investors Sport The purpose of professional sport is to entertain The purpose of school level sport is to improve young people's health The purpose of school level sport is to teach team spirit Religion The purpose of religion is to fulful the human spirit and to give comfort Tourism The purpose of tourism is to entertain The purpose of tourism is to help educate Security apparatus The purpose of a security apparatus and repression is for those in power to maintain control no matter what the will of the people