Comment Re:Screw the government (Score 2, Insightful) 718
While Jefferson made some good points regarding debt and the out of control government, things have happened since these enlightened comments were made. Jefferson was attempting to prevent government from spinning out of control. What does not get discussed is who was Jefferson fighting? Big money interests who wanted to push the US into debt as they had already done in Europe and the rest of the Western world. These money interests wanted us indebted to them to control governments. Today these same money interests pose as the IMF riding to the rescue of countries drowing in corruption and con-artists(which ultimately leads to disaster for those that take the loans). If anyone is interested in how the paper money system works(with the federal reserve) and how the world banks make money every time some more paper is printed there are several books that cover this topic. For the most part it is not roses and a lovely garden that we have with the Federal Reserve. Some reading on the topics of the Federal reserve, runs on banks, and the manipulation of the financial system(1890's) makes the situation clear that it was an intentional move by those who saw a way for larger profits and greater control(bankers and big money). The bottom line is the same, folks that were so rich with the old system were only going to get richer with the new system and they wanted it that way. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The middle class is a fable that is repeated by those that seek to keep increasing their wealth on the backs of labor... I have watched the so called middle class loose jobs and go from "middle class" to poorer than those classified as poor due to massive debt and lifestyles that cannot be sustained. Jeffersons ideas while full of merit do not fit today in a world that caved into the money mongers that have built systems on top of systems that tie and bind everything with layers of regulation and further control(guarantees to ensure that there is a method for repayment). This situation is not going to be reversed. So now we have to address the issues at hand today.
Now back to the topic here about folks working for nothing, and the government getting involved. Let's pop into reality mode for a moment and consider cost of living. What does it cost the average US household in basic living expenses just to survive? I know costs vary depending on where you live, but for the sake of arguement let's say $600 rent, $400 groceries, $150 utilities, Insurance $100(single car), Gas $50, Phone $25... Just the basic essentials to live(at my location). We are talking
say $1300 a month just getting by for a household of say 3 or 4 people. Now lets say your one of the "lucky" people who happen to have a full time minimum wage job(lots of folks cannot get full time work as employers have found that with part timers they don't have to pay benefits and other nice to have things that benefit employees). So lets say your working for $6.75 x 40 hours = $1080 before Uncle Sugar nails ya for Social Insecurity, Medicad, Medicare, taxes(state and federal). Now I am no rocket scientist, but before I even get started with any real number crunching I can see that one person making minimum wage isn't going to make the bills let alone optional things like health insurance coverage, or any kind of savings for a rainy day(car breaks down, kid gets sick) or god forbid retirement. Oh yeah money for daycare... Forget it. So now lets say we are talking about 2 people making full time minimum wage just to make the basic living expenses. The reason for the minimum wage laws should be quite clear. There are many people in this world that do not have the educational background that many on /. have, or a marketable skill such as code work, engineering, systems administration. These folks are working in sometimes unsanitary, and unsafe work environments. They have no voice, they have no representation, and they basically without a lawyer have no rights. That is why these laws became essential. Companies will pay so little that people cannot survive. The images of Scrooge come to mind and Tiny Tim's family(appropriate for this time of year). If your expecting some sort of morale conscience from corporate America you need to pinch yourself and wake up. The sad truth is that the minimum wage laws in the US need attention all right... The minimum wage needs to be increased so that people can at least survive. The same old story lives today... The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
While globalization seems to be the mantra these days I clearly don't see the benefit to the common working people in the US or any country for that matter. The big corporations are going to go where they can get a free or low cost ride. They don't care. Tell me how manufacturing jobs that leave your city or town(that pay a living wage) and are replaced by a minimum wage job(if you can find one) in the service industry is a net gain for you, your city/town, our economy? Or how about the code job that was just exported to India and replaced with 2 jobs at Micky D's? This madness seems to be repeated mindlessly by those that are told we are "isolationist" if we don't agree with this nonsense. There were very valid reasons for tariffs back in Jeffersons day and those tariffs today can help become the equalizer to offset cheap labor, weak labor laws, environmental laws, and human rights abuses in other countries. If we want to talk globalization lets talk about competition on a level playing field. That is not what today's global economy is about contrary to what we are told. It is about cheap labor, and big profits which does != competition and expanding markets. The government will have to be involved. The question is who's bidding will it be doing? For the rich, the corporate elite? Who's interests are they looking out for? Is there anyone out here on /. going to tell me that people are even getting by on minimum wage let alone get ahead? The so called "Free Market economy" has been dead for a very long time. The balance of power and the separation of powers embodied by our government has not kept up with the times and methods of those that would seek to usurp the power and authority of the governed. These money interests have the best government that loans and laws they bought can buy. Can government hurt? I think we all agree it can. But can government help? I believe the answer is yes. Unless we shift the power structure around so that the money interests have to work harder to screw you and me we are in trouble.
If your a tech worker out there looking for work I can sympathize as the company I work for is cutting people by the 10's of thousands and don't expect to survive much longer myself at the rate we are cutting. For those that have the courage and will to work for nothing in the hopes that it works out for you I wish you the best of luck and I would consider doing something like this myself if the opportunity presents itself(of course while still looking for another full time gig). For those that find themselves unable to find work paying a living wage and are working for minimum wage or something resembling that it now makes sense that our government hears the plight of the working class. If you don't have a union where you work would it help? I have been asking myself this recently as the workers voice does not get heard today in my work place, but a union might help as tech workers have about the same value as a cow ready for slaughter. The choice is yours...
For those that mindlessly repeat what we have been told for years about minimum wage eliminating jobs and ruining our economy I challenge you to do some basic math and ask yourself if minimum wage is fair, just, or how about livable. Ask yourself what would employers pay if there wasn't a minimum wage, or how many hours would you be working a day if not for basic standards required by law today. I could easily see companies paying waitress wages(2-3 bucks an hour) and still complaining about labor costs. Don't let anyone con you... If their business is in such sad shape that they cannot afford to pay somone $6.75 an hour then how are they staying in business? When a company can pay an engineer $40 an hour and bill $300 an hour for services that the $40 an hour employee provides I have to ask "Who's screwing who?"
Now back to the topic here about folks working for nothing, and the government getting involved. Let's pop into reality mode for a moment and consider cost of living. What does it cost the average US household in basic living expenses just to survive? I know costs vary depending on where you live, but for the sake of arguement let's say $600 rent, $400 groceries, $150 utilities, Insurance $100(single car), Gas $50, Phone $25... Just the basic essentials to live(at my location). We are talking
say $1300 a month just getting by for a household of say 3 or 4 people. Now lets say your one of the "lucky" people who happen to have a full time minimum wage job(lots of folks cannot get full time work as employers have found that with part timers they don't have to pay benefits and other nice to have things that benefit employees). So lets say your working for $6.75 x 40 hours = $1080 before Uncle Sugar nails ya for Social Insecurity, Medicad, Medicare, taxes(state and federal). Now I am no rocket scientist, but before I even get started with any real number crunching I can see that one person making minimum wage isn't going to make the bills let alone optional things like health insurance coverage, or any kind of savings for a rainy day(car breaks down, kid gets sick) or god forbid retirement. Oh yeah money for daycare... Forget it. So now lets say we are talking about 2 people making full time minimum wage just to make the basic living expenses. The reason for the minimum wage laws should be quite clear. There are many people in this world that do not have the educational background that many on
While globalization seems to be the mantra these days I clearly don't see the benefit to the common working people in the US or any country for that matter. The big corporations are going to go where they can get a free or low cost ride. They don't care. Tell me how manufacturing jobs that leave your city or town(that pay a living wage) and are replaced by a minimum wage job(if you can find one) in the service industry is a net gain for you, your city/town, our economy? Or how about the code job that was just exported to India and replaced with 2 jobs at Micky D's? This madness seems to be repeated mindlessly by those that are told we are "isolationist" if we don't agree with this nonsense. There were very valid reasons for tariffs back in Jeffersons day and those tariffs today can help become the equalizer to offset cheap labor, weak labor laws, environmental laws, and human rights abuses in other countries. If we want to talk globalization lets talk about competition on a level playing field. That is not what today's global economy is about contrary to what we are told. It is about cheap labor, and big profits which does != competition and expanding markets. The government will have to be involved. The question is who's bidding will it be doing? For the rich, the corporate elite? Who's interests are they looking out for? Is there anyone out here on
If your a tech worker out there looking for work I can sympathize as the company I work for is cutting people by the 10's of thousands and don't expect to survive much longer myself at the rate we are cutting. For those that have the courage and will to work for nothing in the hopes that it works out for you I wish you the best of luck and I would consider doing something like this myself if the opportunity presents itself(of course while still looking for another full time gig). For those that find themselves unable to find work paying a living wage and are working for minimum wage or something resembling that it now makes sense that our government hears the plight of the working class. If you don't have a union where you work would it help? I have been asking myself this recently as the workers voice does not get heard today in my work place, but a union might help as tech workers have about the same value as a cow ready for slaughter. The choice is yours...
For those that mindlessly repeat what we have been told for years about minimum wage eliminating jobs and ruining our economy I challenge you to do some basic math and ask yourself if minimum wage is fair, just, or how about livable. Ask yourself what would employers pay if there wasn't a minimum wage, or how many hours would you be working a day if not for basic standards required by law today. I could easily see companies paying waitress wages(2-3 bucks an hour) and still complaining about labor costs. Don't let anyone con you... If their business is in such sad shape that they cannot afford to pay somone $6.75 an hour then how are they staying in business? When a company can pay an engineer $40 an hour and bill $300 an hour for services that the $40 an hour employee provides I have to ask "Who's screwing who?"
