"PUT PEOPLE OVER PROFIT"
What does that mean?
It means just what is says...no more, no less.
It's a statement from the principal of Economic Justice that values the existence of the people over the profits of merchants. That is not to say they are at odds with one another, in fact, just the opposite. What is in the best interests of the people is also in the best interests of the merchant... that is, if s/he wishes to continue in that endeavor.
Consider these points made by John Ruskinin in his writings "Unto This Last" (1862):
 | Wealth is the conjunction of character and material value, but each is destructive of the other. |
| There is no profit in exchange, only advantage - profit only results from
labor. Gain in exchange by one party is loss to the other party and depends on
that party's powerless or ignorance. Fair exchange requires that all parties
know the advantages to the others. Any attempt to conceal is deceit. |
| All labor can be divided into positive (producing life) and negative
(producing death). |
| The prosperity of a nation is in proportion to the quantity of labor it
spends on obtaining and employing means of life. |