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> Where do we draw the line of interfering with an agreement between two competent, free parties? Constantly. Endlessly. Daily. We draw the line everywhere, a
by CPLX 4y ago
> Where do we draw the line of interfering with an agreement between two competent, free parties?
Constantly. Endlessly. Daily.
We draw the line everywhere, all day, in every single aspect of lives. It’s the core concept of government, in fact it’s the basic premise of civilization.
Two parties can’t agree to enter into slavery. Or a Ponzi scheme. Or a restaurant meal where the cooks don’t disinfect the kitchen. Or a bank where there’s not enough reserves. Or an airplane that hasn’t been maintained. Or a verbal agreement to buy a house.
In all cases it’s because we’re not ok with the effect on society, like E. Coli outbreaks, plane crashes, bank failures, destitute old people, and lots of other stuff.
It’s not necessarily that the people themselves are being taken advantage of. Society is. The companies are externalizing costs and risks on everyone instead of absorbing them. We get to decide that’s not OK.
- qeternity 4y agoI asked where we draw the line, not if we draw it. All of your examples are incredibly unlikely things for two informed parties to enter into. In fact, the reasons those laws exist is because of the information asymmetry. That seems reasonable to me. But gig workers are not under the illusion that they are going to receive healthcare or other benefits. It's like if I took a job offer for $X and then demanded I was being exploited because I want $Y. I fully support gig workers in pushing for more, I absolutely do. These are natural market forces. Everyone should act in their own self interest...we know that Uber will. I just think that in this instance, this qualifies as government overreach.
- CPLX 4y agoI answered it. We draw the line where there are demonstrable harms to society and when information or power asymmetry is not avoidable, which externalizes costs onto society as a whole.
- qeternity 4y agoOk, and what is the unavoidable and unacceptable asymmetry at play here?
- yourapostasy 4y ago> I just think that in this instance, this qualifies as government overreach. Considering the bought and paid for political legislatures with lobbying money and unusual whales funded by corporate interests, if you think this little blip by workers is “overreach” then you’d be flabbergasted by what corporate lobbyists get away with.