Hey, what's a law when profit margin is involved. You're supposed to curse, spit and say something about "regulation" aren't you... Don't let's get religion now and try to explain it away. Where'd the profit at any cost mantra vanish to?
Companies are not machines. Companies are a collection of people with and without ethics. Those people work for a living - yes even make profits for the greater good of the whole. But that does not diminish their responsibility to act in the better interests of this nation instead of their raw greed. Law or no law. For people who complain endlessly about proliferation of laws and regulation, it's interesting that you find God on those subjects when hit with harsh reality.. and then only to handwring. It's pretty pathetic that one should have to argue legal/illegal vs right/wrong when it comes to the greater good of the nation. Especially when this rot is coming from the GOP who should know better. You should know better!
As far as I know there are very few laws regarding profit margin.
Also, I don't believe "profit at any cost" on a personal level. I don't even believe in profit at any cost for corporations. I believe that some money should be poured back into R&D etc.
But you're dead wrong in your view of companies. They really are "machines." If you expect them to act in a moral fashion then you're in for a lot of disappointment.