4 ms·

Amazon is just the new kid on the block, companies have been doing this for a long time now. I have friends that are or have been the lowest cogs in these massi

Amazon is just the new kid on the block, companies have been doing this for a long time now. I have friends that are or have been the lowest cogs in these massive shipping and delivery machines. The top rung of Amazon doesn't dictate policy down to those lowest cogs. There are layers and layers of middle management who have very few dials to tweak. If those managers want to advance their careers they don't have many options except to squeeze those gains out of the lower rungs. The nice managers sink while the ones that exploit are promoted. It absolutely sucks on the bottom rung, yet those on the bottom know that they have very few if any better options to provide for their families. They are almost all deeply unhappy and there is a sense of despair and hopelessness down there. Everyone better off assumes it's not that bad, but really, they are miserable. Lots of people were wondering how Trump possibly could have gotten elected, but there is a massive amount of unhappy people that are tired of getting squeezed by anyone with authority and were grasping at anything that was remotely promising any change at all. It is bad down there and the hilarious thing is that so much human despair can be alleviated by just acknowledging how hard it is down there and giving the bottom rung an extra quarter or two an hour every few months. The companies would barely notice.

pedrosorio 6y ago
“ It absolutely sucks on the bottom rung, yet those on the bottom know that they have very few if any better options to provide for their families. (...) there is a massive amount of unhappy people that are tired of getting squeezed by anyone with authority (...) the hilarious thing is that so much human despair can be alleviated by just acknowledging how hard it is down there and giving the bottom rung an extra quarter or two an hour every few months“ How do small increases in compensation at the soul-crushing job help solve these people’s problems? If anything it sounds like it makes it even less economically viable to leave the dystopian environment they are in.
- bostonsre 6y ago
  They are going through that suffering for money. Giving raises that aren't too insultingly low gives them slightly more for that suffering and provides some additional well being by giving people hope that their lives will get better and that maybe it won't be so bad later. > If anything it sounds like it makes it even less economically viable to leave the dystopian environment they are in. Economically viable for the large corporation but not for those on the bottom. Why does the maximization of shareholder value deserve to be the only consideration? Amazon skirts tax laws to save billions while taking advantage of selling within the United States. Why shouldn't we as a society say that those on the bottom deserve a slightly less bad life?
  - pedrosorio 6y ago
    If Amazon unilaterally increases their compensation while keeping working conditions terrible: 1) They still won't be financially independent, capable of leaving the job 2) Other jobs that might not be as terrible will pay even less comparatively making it that much harder to leave Those at the bottom deserve a better life by: 1) being able to afford all necessities (housing, healthcare, etc.) 2) not being subject to psychological torture at jobs they can't leave Modest increases in compensation don't seem to address (1) effectively and do not address (2) at all which is my concern.

pedrosorio 6y ago

“ It absolutely sucks on the bottom rung, yet those on the bottom know that they have very few if any better options to provide for their families. (...) there is a massive amount of unhappy people that are tired of getting squeezed by anyone with authority (...) the hilarious thing is that so much human despair can be alleviated by just acknowledging how hard it is down there and giving the bottom rung an extra quarter or two an hour every few months“ How do small increases in compensation at the soul-crushing job help solve these people’s problems? If anything it sounds like it makes it even less economically viable to leave the dystopian environment they are in.

bostonsre 6y ago
They are going through that suffering for money. Giving raises that aren't too insultingly low gives them slightly more for that suffering and provides some additional well being by giving people hope that their lives will get better and that maybe it won't be so bad later. > If anything it sounds like it makes it even less economically viable to leave the dystopian environment they are in. Economically viable for the large corporation but not for those on the bottom. Why does the maximization of shareholder value deserve to be the only consideration? Amazon skirts tax laws to save billions while taking advantage of selling within the United States. Why shouldn't we as a society say that those on the bottom deserve a slightly less bad life?
- pedrosorio 6y ago
  If Amazon unilaterally increases their compensation while keeping working conditions terrible: 1) They still won't be financially independent, capable of leaving the job 2) Other jobs that might not be as terrible will pay even less comparatively making it that much harder to leave Those at the bottom deserve a better life by: 1) being able to afford all necessities (housing, healthcare, etc.) 2) not being subject to psychological torture at jobs they can't leave Modest increases in compensation don't seem to address (1) effectively and do not address (2) at all which is my concern.