3 ms·

The most obvious problem is that you make workers compete against each other in a race to the bottom, with fewer and fewer protections, and employers select amo

The most obvious problem is that you make workers compete against each other in a race to the bottom, with fewer and fewer protections, and employers select among the workers for those most willing to endure the most demanding hardship.

dcow 4y ago
So because some people don't want to work more than 8 hours a day we must prevent everybody from working more than 8 hours a day because it will inevitably spiral into a race to the bottom? That's rhetorically pretty loose. Do we have that problem in the US? No. I don't believe this race to the bottom actually exists. Companies need all sorts of labor. Diversity of labor is good.
- glenstein 4y ago
  >Do we have that problem in the US? We did, until we established labor laws preventing it.
- mrguyorama 4y ago
  >No. I don't believe this race to the bottom actually exists. There are literally companies using child labor in the US RIGHT NOW, and a huge argument against increasing minimum wage is that "they are jobs for teens and teens don't need that much money" so desperate (or privileged enough in their position to not need to demand more) people are depressing wages in the US currently.
  - YeahNO 4y ago
    You are 100% spot on. States are weakening worker and child protection laws around the country. Destroying oversight of child protection: no need to check that kids are at least 16 before they are hired in Arkansas. Ohio Reps want to let 14 year olds work year round until 9pm each day. Iowa wants to let 14 year olds work in meatpacking plants AND indemnify companies from liability if the child is injured or killed at work, isn't that just grand? Minnesota trails with a bill to let 16 year olds work on construction sites. Do I hear 14? 13? How much for 12? Why any age at all? If a baby can swing a hammer, then what right does the man in Washington have to stop him? Is that baby not entitled to the sweat of his brow? I say YES! And if that baby should fall off a ladder dragging a square of tiles behind him, should the company not be protected from liability for it was that baby's own fault? I say YES, most emphatically! /s

dcow 4y ago

So because some people don't want to work more than 8 hours a day we must prevent everybody from working more than 8 hours a day because it will inevitably spiral into a race to the bottom? That's rhetorically pretty loose. Do we have that problem in the US? No. I don't believe this race to the bottom actually exists. Companies need all sorts of labor. Diversity of labor is good.

glenstein 4y ago
>Do we have that problem in the US? We did, until we established labor laws preventing it.
mrguyorama 4y ago
>No. I don't believe this race to the bottom actually exists. There are literally companies using child labor in the US RIGHT NOW, and a huge argument against increasing minimum wage is that "they are jobs for teens and teens don't need that much money" so desperate (or privileged enough in their position to not need to demand more) people are depressing wages in the US currently.
- YeahNO 4y ago
  You are 100% spot on. States are weakening worker and child protection laws around the country. Destroying oversight of child protection: no need to check that kids are at least 16 before they are hired in Arkansas. Ohio Reps want to let 14 year olds work year round until 9pm each day. Iowa wants to let 14 year olds work in meatpacking plants AND indemnify companies from liability if the child is injured or killed at work, isn't that just grand? Minnesota trails with a bill to let 16 year olds work on construction sites. Do I hear 14? 13? How much for 12? Why any age at all? If a baby can swing a hammer, then what right does the man in Washington have to stop him? Is that baby not entitled to the sweat of his brow? I say YES! And if that baby should fall off a ladder dragging a square of tiles behind him, should the company not be protected from liability for it was that baby's own fault? I say YES, most emphatically! /s