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I'd probably make the argument that it's an overemphasis on the principles of supply and demand (capitalism) that make one potentially worthless. If there are
by katzgrau 10y ago
I'd probably make the argument that it's an overemphasis on the principles of supply and demand (capitalism) that make one potentially worthless.
If there are enough geographers with graduate degrees applying for the gig even at minimum wage pay, you pay them minimum wage.
In the US (and let's be real, most of the world), capitalism trumps altruism (paying someone more than their market value because you're nice).
We exploit our own kind - it's always been that way, and there have always been a sufficient number of justifications (whether you agree with them or not) to keep up the practice.
- aianus 10y agoYou see exploitation, I see a market signal to high schoolers and undergraduates telling them we have enough graduate-level geographers, encouraging them to pursue something else and eventually making us all more prosperous in the future.
- elastic_church 10y agoI see cheap labor on mechanical turk woohoo upvotes are in my future for 1 cent!
- katzgrau 10y agoSure, just two different ways of looking at the same thing. I personally view all employment as fundamental exploitation. Obviously you only hire employees with the intention to extract more value than what you give back in compensation. Some employers are downright extreme in this exercise. I'm not against all of it. I just appreciate viewing things from as many perspectives as possible, uncomfortable or not.
- merpnderp 10y agoWhat's a better system? About the time that Marx was formulating his ideas on society and markets, the US was just about finishing up several decades of government businesses that kept losing money against free market ran businesses even though they had the weight of the US treasury behind them. I doubt anyone would disagree that the reason the government businesses failed was that they were not sensitive to market signals and kept investing people's labor poorly.
- tootie 10y agoSocialism need not be paired with a command economy. Capitalism plus redistribution works better.
- hnbroseph 10y agosort of like how bandit activity is a signal that a road should be avoided
- pizza 10y agoIs it a reliable signal?
- merpnderp 10y agoTo everyone who says "If money is important to me, what should I major it," it's a great signal. To people who say "What's my passion in life and the rest of the world should subsidize it," not so much.
- vacri 10y agoBecause as we know, high-schoolers are really good at labour-market analysis.
- flukus 10y agoMaybe there should be a specialist who's role is to counsel students through these decisions and provide guidance?