Child Labor...

[nadinbrzezinski]

whereas in the US and the rest of the OECD economies child labor disappeared by the beginning of the 20th century, it is a feature of cheap labor markets today. I know I could make the moral argument, which was made, successfully mind you, by those who fought against it. Reality is that this is not going to change anything. So why is it that while child labor was an exception oh fifty years ago, it is the rule today.

So leave morality aside, realize the reason why kids are used is that they are even cheaper sources of labor. And while some might celebrate women in the labor force in the US as a victory for equality, it is also cheaper labor. This is a reality that we all need to face up to.

Don't try the ever so popular moral outrage, that will not work. Try the economic. The only way to stop child labor is to make it very expensive by the companies involved... I fear.

This goes without saying that we need a world wide labor movement and Americans first need to recognize that OTHER countries have strong labor laws as well as organized labor (see Mexico). Why even though labor costs are lower, most of these companies go from Mexico to oh Bangladesh where they can hire children... that is against the law in Mexico.. and where they can ignore environmental laws, which is the main reason.

Labor costs is an excuse... most of the reasons for these companies to move is because of other externalities, such as those environmental laws. It also has another advantage. In the US or in Mexico, or Canada, or even Europe you run the factory. Lets use Acme INC. In these major economies they would have to own all the factory, manage it, pay the taxes, pay the externalities. When they move to places like oh China... they hire a factory floor, to do this UNDER CONTRACT. In other words, Acme INc is not paying taxes, or minimum in taxes. It is not paying for the environmental costs, and they know that the OFFICIAL union, managed by the Party, will mostly comply. (*That is changing by the way, and labor costs are going up, as well as demands to clean up their act, aka environmental degradation costs, so ACME will move next to ANOTHER place where they can repeat the pattern)

This is why we need to change the laws. Use a real company, let's say Microsoft or Mac, does not matter. You want to build you mice in the Zinzuang Industrial corridor? Fine... in order to bring them into the country here are the tariffs you will have to pay. Until that happens, companies will continue to be merely distributors any more.

On the bright side, if there is any, there are some pretty nice knock offs of the Mac IPAD, running Android, I am betting built at the SAME Foxconn factories... marketed for oh 120 USD... and yes they will ship to the US. So our long term policy of cheap labor will cost us our dominant role in the economy. Never mind the national security matters, given that we no longer produce the advanced components we need for our war fighting equipment. So I guess if we ever go to war with oh China, they will keep sending the chips and other mission critical components... :sarcasm:

So in the end our "centrist," Third Way economic policy will bring us to our knees... ain't that a hoot? And the bringing to our knees part is already here. I am not sure if we can turn this one around quite frankly... but what is coming will have severe consequences for the generations to come.

[William Z. Foster]

1. K and R

Good post.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. K and R. eom

[leftstreet]

3. K&R

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Thanks, there are days that even the obvious

is hard for most people to see, especially those who should KNOW BETTER! Aka those in charge of the government who spout over and over again about NATIONAL SECURITY.