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**Ivanaishere** · 02-20-2011, 10:22 PM

If the other workers are being underpaid, why don't the leave and get jobs that pay them what they are supposedly worth?

Because there are no such jobs. I'm referring to an effect that's economy-wide, brought on by a change in government policy that occurred in the 1980s. What you suggest makes no more sense than saying to someone who is sheltering in a rainstorm under a tree, and the tree has become soaked and is leaking rain all over him, that he should find another tree. The same rain is everywhere, and all the trees are in the same condition.

WHy is it a travesty? For two reasons. One, as I said, the workers are the ones actually producing the wealth. And two, because the economy depends on having the wealth be widely shared; otherwise, consumer demand slumps and we get an underperforming economy such as we've had for the past thirty years. For working people to receive a decent share of the wealth that THEY produce is fair. For MANY people to receive a decent share of the wealth that we all produce is necessary. And for both those reasons and by both those measures, wages in this country are too low.

If capital is utterly unimportant I did not say that. If you wish to slay straw men, that's your privilege, and it's mine to ignore it, which I will.

Furthermore it is just stupid to suggest that the employeer/employee relationship is "stealing". Both enter into the relationship freely. "Work for me, work for my competitors, or starve" is not a free choice.

02-20-2011, 10:22 PM	#28
Ivanaishere Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 466 Senior Member	If the other workers are being underpaid, why don't the leave and get jobs that pay them what they are supposedly worth? Because there are no such jobs. I'm referring to an effect that's economy-wide, brought on by a change in government policy that occurred in the 1980s. What you suggest makes no more sense than saying to someone who is sheltering in a rainstorm under a tree, and the tree has become soaked and is leaking rain all over him, that he should find another tree. The same rain is everywhere, and all the trees are in the same condition. WHy is it a travesty? For two reasons. One, as I said, the workers are the ones actually producing the wealth. And two, because the economy depends on having the wealth be widely shared; otherwise, consumer demand slumps and we get an underperforming economy such as we've had for the past thirty years. For working people to receive a decent share of the wealth that THEY produce is fair. For MANY people to receive a decent share of the wealth that we all produce is necessary. And for both those reasons and by both those measures, wages in this country are too low. If capital is utterly unimportant I did not say that. If you wish to slay straw men, that's your privilege, and it's mine to ignore it, which I will. Furthermore it is just stupid to suggest that the employeer/employee relationship is "stealing". Both enter into the relationship freely. "Work for me, work for my competitors, or starve" is not a free choice.
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