I think the biggest single thing that causes difficulty in the business world is the short-term view. We become obsessed with it. But it forces bad decisions.

We've always been in favor of improved wages for workers. When you have a strong middle class, they want to buy more stuff at Costco.

Obscene salaries send the wrong message through a company. The message is that all brilliance emanates from the top; that the worker on the floor of the store or the factory is insignificant.

You could raise the price of, say, a bottle of ketchup to $1.03 instead of $1, and no one would know. Raising prices just 3% per product would add 50% to your pretax income. Why not do it? It's like heroin: You do a little and you want a little bit more. Raising prices is the easy way.

If we take care of the business and keep our eye on the goal line, the stock price will take care of itself.

It's like heroin: You do a little and you want a little bit more. Raising prices is the easy way.

Paying your employees well is not only the right thing to do but it makes for good business.