Or would you want to voluntarily waive parts of your salary?

I already have. I could make so much more money with my skillset doing incredibly antisocial things...I choose not to.

No, most people do not seek out competitor businesses (or even businesses in other sectors like in this case) so they can fire all the human workers in the hope of making more money.

Non-tax-deductable donations are a voluntary waiver of salary. Most people have ethics and a conscience, its just the greedy minority that fuck it up for the community-minded majority.

It’s just rational maximization of profits.

No, it really isn't. It is rational to consider all upsides and downsides (profit just being one) of a decision and then weigh them according to your own personal priorities before trying to achieve an optimal result. This very rarely results in profits being the only priority.

would you want to voluntarily waive parts of your salary?

Yes, I tend to vote for increased taxes to invest in education, environment, social welfare. And yes, that includes progressive taxes that hit me harder (as long as that also applies to the wealthy), and vice taxes that target my vices

A huge portion of the Netherlands works part time by choice. So, yes, many people voluntarily waive parts of their salary.

There is a difference between wanting to live comfortably, which is rational, and actively seeking ways to exploit others for your own gain beyond what you need to live. Greed isn't "I want to have enough", it's "I can never have enough".

Society has always thrived on a measure of generosity. So many cultures have customs around giving gifts, because that's how you build a support network of people that will help you out when you need it. Greed is shortsighted and destructive.

Or would you want to voluntarily waive parts of your salary?

Depends on the reason. If the waived amount goes to paying for healthcare, support someone suddenly unemployed or maintain infrastructure that I or other people need? Sure.

That profit comes from externalizing pain to others while capturing their livelihoods.

To call not doing that "voluntary waiving parts of your salary" is incredibly manipulative.

First these people aren't salaried, they're mercenaries, and of course their "compensation structure" ensures they're largely free of the tax burden that the people they prey on have to endure.

Second, just because you can do sonething doesn't mean it's the rigth thing to do. Not that these people have had a moral belief once in their lives.

It is reallt aberrant all the evils that have been laundered in the name if money.

I think the better question is why do we allow these sick individuals to carelessly wield chainsaws around us?