"No CEO dares say it, yet it must be said: The shaming is over," wrote Fortune senior editor-at-large Geoff Colvin.
So how did the era of business shaming come to an end, according to Fortune? Business has taken a left turn toward embracing more government intrusion on climate, health care and other issues.
Colvin specifically cited two examples that have helped corporate America become "respectable" again:
“The Business Roundtable, comprising the CEOs of America's 200 biggest companies, in January joined with AARP and the Service Employees International Union to propose universal national health care.”
and ...
“In late January, for example, ten major companies called for firm limits on carbon dioxide emissions and for a system of trading carbon credits. The companies included big utilities like Duke Energy and PG&E, plus giant industrial firms like Alcoa and Caterpillar, all with strong and not necessarily congruent stakes in carbon regulation.”
But the Fortune editor did make it clear that while businesses may have regained public trust, CEOs haven't been as fortunate. That's not surprising given media attempts to stir up outrage over "staggering" CEO pay as Scott Whitlock noted on Newsbusters earlier today.
