I truly pray you are right. But, unfortunately, the concern of Fortune 500 companies for quality is rather suspect lately. They keep looking at the bottom line of costs and letting that drive all decision-making.
you are perfectly correct. Short run maximizers have done incalculable damage to American business in every field. Corporate Darwinism will weed out the short run competitors in favor of the more durable and adaptable players.
By the way, Bush's tax plan relieving dividend taxation will move this along faster, with investors demanding return on invested capital rather than just stock price increases.
Regards,