4 ms·

not everything is supply and demand. we have a "mostly" 40 hour work week, not because that is what is needed for demand, but it is enforced by labor laws. I s

not everything is supply and demand. we have a "mostly" 40 hour work week, not because that is what is needed for demand, but it is enforced by labor laws. I see no reason why there can't be a mandate to provide mental health benefits to these workers. It is absolutely a safety hazard.

erulabs 6y ago
This might border on useless, but to me, if the workers for the most part "demand" a 40 hour work week, and for the most part "demand" over-time pay, etc, this isn't a breakdown in supply and demand. Anarcho-capitalists should support workers demanding things - they just should also support scabs working anyways. Supply and demand applies to labor - if the labor does not supply itself - it creates demand for better conditions! The most tautological comment I may ever post!
- croon 6y ago
  While your logic is correct, it is ignoring another argument. Individual workers might not price in the societal (or individual) cost 20 years from now of breeding mental issues in these workers now. Or another example: You own 50% of the forest land in your community, which for sake of argument produces 50% of the community's oxygen (assuming a closed system). You start cutting down the trees to produce furniture and sell them. Generally the cost of oxygen production is not priced in, and down the line, someone will pay for it. Either individuals getting sick, universal health care, environmental efforts in replanting, regulation on land maintenance, etc, etc. I suppose you will argue that each individual will need to save a buffer for every network effect for every purchase decision they ever make that doesn't price in externalities, in pure capitalist spirit. But I hope my point hits that there has never existed such a system, or if it did, it died out pretty quickly, and left no trace in history. We can and should all have opinions on health regulation, environmental taxes, etc regarding what their effect ultimately becomes, but everything from societal mental health to environmental effects will always leave a bill, and someone will pay for it. The only thing we can discuss is if it should be everyone for themselves, our great great grandchildren, taxes, or corporations selling crap too cheap (or in OPs case for free).

erulabs 6y ago

This might border on useless, but to me, if the workers for the most part "demand" a 40 hour work week, and for the most part "demand" over-time pay, etc, this isn't a breakdown in supply and demand. Anarcho-capitalists should support workers demanding things - they just should also support scabs working anyways. Supply and demand applies to labor - if the labor does not supply itself - it creates demand for better conditions! The most tautological comment I may ever post!

croon 6y ago
While your logic is correct, it is ignoring another argument. Individual workers might not price in the societal (or individual) cost 20 years from now of breeding mental issues in these workers now. Or another example: You own 50% of the forest land in your community, which for sake of argument produces 50% of the community's oxygen (assuming a closed system). You start cutting down the trees to produce furniture and sell them. Generally the cost of oxygen production is not priced in, and down the line, someone will pay for it. Either individuals getting sick, universal health care, environmental efforts in replanting, regulation on land maintenance, etc, etc. I suppose you will argue that each individual will need to save a buffer for every network effect for every purchase decision they ever make that doesn't price in externalities, in pure capitalist spirit. But I hope my point hits that there has never existed such a system, or if it did, it died out pretty quickly, and left no trace in history. We can and should all have opinions on health regulation, environmental taxes, etc regarding what their effect ultimately becomes, but everything from societal mental health to environmental effects will always leave a bill, and someone will pay for it. The only thing we can discuss is if it should be everyone for themselves, our great great grandchildren, taxes, or corporations selling crap too cheap (or in OPs case for free).