> Things that can't be produced profitably aren't produced voluntarily
If for good x to be produced profitably, it needs for the human labor component to work for less than livable wage, then it shouldn't be produced. Period.
There are a great many examples of differences in minimum wage (even within the U.S., the minimum wage has gone up and down) and I assure you, an Armageddon of unemployment does not ensue when the minimum wage is raised.
Your "good people don't act on their convictions" argument is plain silly, anamax. Listen, there are rules for everything. If we don't "coerce" businesses not to put toxins in kids toys and lead in drinking water, they will. If we don't say, "you can't economically rape your employees," they will. Look at what happened in the late 19th century: company town, company stores, child labor. We keep learning; we keep forgetting. It makes me sick.
If for good x to be produced profitably, it needs for the human labor component to work for less than livable wage, then it shouldn't be produced. Period.
There are a great many examples of differences in minimum wage (even within the U.S., the minimum wage has gone up and down) and I assure you, an Armageddon of unemployment does not ensue when the minimum wage is raised.
Your "good people don't act on their convictions" argument is plain silly, anamax. Listen, there are rules for everything. If we don't "coerce" businesses not to put toxins in kids toys and lead in drinking water, they will. If we don't say, "you can't economically rape your employees," they will. Look at what happened in the late 19th century: company town, company stores, child labor. We keep learning; we keep forgetting. It makes me sick.