‘It is the rich who are gaming the system,’ according to a comment on This Site’s YouTube channel. But are they?

The person writing in was responding to the plan for sickness and disability benefits to be cut by the Labour government, so This Writer certainly won’t be blaming them for feeling that way.

Nevertheless, it is important to check assertions like this.

Here’s the full comment:

“It’s the rich who really game the system. And why wouldn’t they? Their clause stipulates that they must make profits at all cost for their shareholders. They can even be sued if they seem to be taking a deviant course that stops extra profit margins.”

I did a bit of research, and here’s my answer:

There is no doubt that wealthy individuals and big corporations exploit the system through tax loopholes, lobbying, and political influence.

But the idea that companies are legally required to maximize profit “at all costs” isn’t quite right.

In the UK, company directors have a duty under the Companies Act 2006 to consider employees, customers, and long-term sustainability—not just shareholder profits.

So technically, they don’t have to chase profit at any cost. But in reality, many do, because CEOs are under pressure to deliver quick returns to investors; the stock market rewards short-term gains over long-term stability; and corporations lobby for laws that benefit them (like tax loopholes).

It’s also a myth that companies can be sued just for not maximizing profit – that’s more of a US thing, where shareholder lawsuits are more aggressive. In the UK, courts rarely interfere unless there’s fraud or mismanagement.

The real problem isn’t the law itself, but the incentives – the system rewards businesses that prioritize short-term profits over ethics, fair wages, and sustainability.

That’s why we see tax avoidance, job cuts for shareholder dividends, and environmental damage.

The question is: how do we shift the system to reward long-term responsibility instead of just short-term profits?

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